By Edward Acquah
Accra, March 4, GNA – The AABryt Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has lauded the government’s decision to provide free sanitary pads to girls in primary and secondary schools.
The Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting reproductive and menstrual health, said the initiative marked a significant step in addressing period poverty, improving menstrual hygiene, and empowering teenage girls to lead healthier and more dignified lives.
In a statement issued and signed by Ms. Diana Akosua Adutwumwaa Britwum, Founder of AABryt Foundation, the organisation called on the government to ensure local communities, particularly teenage girls, are actively involved in the planning and implementation of the programme.
According to the Foundation, involving key stakeholders would ensure the programme directly addresses the specific needs of the target group.
The statement also called for the local manufacturing of sanitary pads and a reduction in taxes on imported sanitary pads to make them more affordable for underprivileged girls, for whom cost remained a major barrier to access.
“Access to sanitary products is a basic human right, and this initiative will have a transformative impact on the lives of millions of teenage menstruating girls.
However, the success of this programme will depend on effective implementation, sustained funding, and continued efforts to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation,” the statement said.
In his State of the Nation Address delivered in Parliament last Thursday, President John Dramani Mahama announced the government’s initiative to provide free sanitary pads to female students from Primary 5 through to Senior High School.
He stated that the programme aims to reduce absenteeism caused by period-related challenges.
The AABryt Foundation expressed its readiness to support the government in the implementation of the programme, as it aligned with the Foundation’s mission to break the stigma around menstruation and ensure access to affordable, high-quality menstrual products for all teenage menstruating girls.
It also urged the government to establish clear mechanisms for monitoring the distribution of sanitary products and measuring the programme’s impact on school attendance, health outcomes, and gender equality.
GNA