A GNA feature by Regina Benneh
Sunyani, May 30, GNA- World Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated May 28, annually to raise awareness about menstruation and promote good menstrual hygiene practices.
The day further seeks to break down taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation as well as educate people about menstrual hygiene, dispel myths and promote period-friendly practices.
Some organisations support women and girls in marginalized communities, the day also advocates policy reforms, and increased funding to improve menstrual health and hygiene infrastructure.
It further contributes to significant progress, including increased access to menstrual products and education, and improved policies and infrastructure to support menstrual health.
As the global observes the 2025 celebration of the Day, it’s essential to acknowledge the struggles of adolescent girls in the country.
Menstruation
Menstruation is a natural part of life, but for many young girls, it is a source of shame, discomfort and health risks.
The theme for this year’s celebration: “Together for a Period Friendly World,” serves as a reminder for a collective approach to break down taboos and stigmas surrounding menstruation.
The harsh reality
In Ghana, many adolescent girls face significant challenges when it comes to menstrual hygiene as some schools might receive donation of sanitary pads.
However, those pads often end up in the hands of female teachers and that is a harsh reality that highlights the need for systemic change.
A recent incident that happened in a Senior High School in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region is a case in point.
In that instant, a donor visited the school to distribute quantities of sanitary pads to the needy girls, however, most of the pads benefited the female teachers, instead of the vulnerable girls.
Human Cost
The consequences of inadequate menstrual hygiene are far-reaching, as girls who cannot afford to buy sanitary pads might resort to the use of polythene bags and other unhygienic materials that can lead to serious health complications.
Some girls may even drop out of school due to the shame and embarrassment they feel during menstruation.
Scenario
Mr. George Yaw Ankamah, the Bono Regional Director of the Department of Children, shared a heartbreaking story of an adolescent girl which highlights the need to support girls during their menstruation.
In that scenario, the young girl stood in class for hours, and she was too shy to sit down because she had menstruated and did not wear a sanitary pad.
According to Mr. Ankamah, her teacher initially thought she was tired or feeling sleepy; however, she realised something was wrong with the girl.
When the teacher asked her to sit down, the girl remained standing, and it was after the session was over that she confessed her predicament to the teacher.
The girl had wrapped her waist with a polythene bag for the blood to drop in one by one and she was afraid to sit down and soil herself.
Systemic Change
The girl’s story underscores the need for systemic change to tackle the menstrual hygiene needs of adolescent girls.
“In fact, those girls need to be identified, and their problems solved once and for all,” Mr. Ankamah stated, saying “there may be many more girls facing similar challenges who need our help”.
Consequences
The consequences can be devastating, as some unsuspecting girls end up in the hands of some men who exploit them sexually.
Madam Esther Boa, also shared her experience on how she looked for and used pieces of clothes whenever she menstruated during her teens and called on parents to provide their girls with sanitary pads.
That, she added, left him with psychological problems.
Way forward
To create a more period-friendly world, there is the need for the nation to provide menstrual hygiene education and awareness creation.
There is also the need for schools to incorporate comprehensive menstrual health programs into their curricula, as families open conversations with their girls to know what they go through during those periods.
More so, the price of sanitary pads ought to be affordable and accessible for all girls irrespective of their social, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
With donations and government subsidies, many vulnerable girls can access sanitary pads to keep themselves well during their menstruation.
In conclusion, it is essential to create a society that is more understanding and supportive for girls to easily open up and share their problems.
By doing so, taboos and stigmas inimical to the holistic growth and development of girls can be tackled to create a more inclusive and compassionate world for girls.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Benjamin Mensah