By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Hohoe (V/R), June 23, GNA – Plan International Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing menstrual health and hygiene management (MHHM) and promoting the rights, dignity and well-being of girls and women across the country.
Mr Mathias Gangana, Southern Programme Influencing and Impact Area Manager of Plan International Ghana, said the organisation’s interventions over the past decade had helped address menstrual poverty, challenge harmful social norms and create enabling environments for girls to thrive.
He was speaking at the UHAS, RGHI Project Dissemination Forum held at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health on the Hohoe Campus of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).
Mr Gangana said, as an organisation dedicated to children’s rights and gender equality, particularly for girls, Plan International Ghana had implemented transformative interventions that had significantly improved menstrual health outcomes nationwide.
He said through comprehensive menstrual health education programmes, the organisation had reached girls, boys, parents, teachers and community members, increased awareness and reducing the stigma associated with menstruation.
Mr Gangana said thousands of vulnerable girls had been empowered to manage menstruation with dignity and confidence through the provision of sanitary pads, reusable menstrual products and the establishment of pad banks in schools, including special schools and some tertiary institutions.
He said those interventions had contributed to improved school attendance and greater participation in academic activities among girls.
Mr Gangana said Plan International Ghana had also strengthened Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services through the installation and rehabilitation of handwashing facilities, the provision of clean water and soap, and the construction of gender-responsive, inclusive and disability-friendly sanitation facilities.
He said those investments had improved privacy, safety and comfort for girls while promoting healthy hygiene practices in schools and communities.
Recognising that menstrual health was a shared responsibility, Mr Gangana said the organisation had actively engaged men and boys through initiatives such as the “Real Fathers” campaign to foster understanding and support for girls and women.
He said advocacy and community sensitisation programmes had also contributed to reducing discrimination, challenging harmful gender norms and advancing gender equality.
According to him, the interventions had yielded significant outcomes, including increased knowledge and awareness of menstrual health, improved access to menstrual hygiene products, enhanced school attendance and academic participation among girls, strengthened hygiene practices, increased male involvement and stronger community ownership of menstrual health initiatives.
“As we reflect on these achievements, we stand in solidarity with all partners, lecturers, teachers, community leaders, parents, girls and young people who have contributed and continue to support this important journey,” he said.
Mr Gangana said the collective efforts of stakeholders had empowered countless girls to remain in school, participate confidently in community development and realise their full potential.
He reaffirmed Plan International Ghana’s commitment to sustaining efforts that would ensure every girl could manage menstruation safely, confidently and with dignity.
“Together, let us build a more just, inclusive and equitable society where no girl is left behind simply because of her period,” he said.
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade