Samira Bawumia, the Second Lady, under the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP) has highlighted the urgent need to break barriers and empower women and girls through improved menstrual hygiene management.
“I join my voice to all those who are championing efforts to eradicate period poverty. Together, we can take away the stigma, misconception, and challenges that women and girls face monthly,” she said.
The second lady was speaking at a ceremony where she donated five thousand packs of sanitary pads and Menstrual Hygiene Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) packs to female students in the Ga Central Municipal Education Directorate.
The event, which was under the year’s theme: “Together for a Period-Friendly World,” the second lady underscored the importance of collective action to provide accurate information and ensure access to affordable and sustainable menstrual products.
Mrs Bawumia highlighted that many women and girls still face challenges in accessing safe water, sanitation and menstrual products, a situation known as period poverty.
“Period poverty leads to a cascade of negative impacts, including missing school days, increased health risks such as urinary tract infections, a cause of cervical cancer and social exclusion ultimately diminishing economic opportunities,” Mrs. Bawumia explained.
She also addressed the stigma and discrimination menstruating girls and women face, noting that in some cultures they are seen as unclean, which restricts their movements and access to certain spaces.
“Certain cultural norms also forbid menstruating women and girls from touching certain foods with the belief that they would go bad. Simply put, period poverty affects women and girls in diverse ways and it is unacceptable,” she asserted.
Mrs. Bawumia called on the government, NGOs, faith-based organisations and academia to work together to create sustainable solutions and to break the silence surrounding menstruation, which often leads to ignorance and neglect, including at the policy level.
“Our advocacy must translate into policy change. From schools to workplaces, from rural villages to urban centers, let us create an enabling environment.
“Access to affordable and sustainable menstrual products will ensure that girls and women adopt healthy and hygienic menstrual practices,” she urged.
Dakoa Newman, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, who also addressed the students, emphasised the critical need for enhanced menstrual health management and gender equality.
In her address, the minister underscored the importance of addressing the challenges girls face, regarding their sexual and reproductive health rights.
“It is prudent that proper menstrual health management is provided to safeguard the dignity and integrity of girls, improve their school performance, and reduce dropout rates among them,” she stated.
The Minister lamented the persistent stigma surrounding menstruation in many societies, where it is often seen as contaminated and impure.
“There is no open conversation on ensuring a healthy way of life for girls,” Newman remarked. She called for continuous education and sensitisation of all stakeholders, including opinion leaders, parents, teachers and the girls themselves to foster a positive outlook on menstruation as a fulfilling and natural experience.
Dr. Kwabena Bempah-Tandoh, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) emphasised the importance of addressing menstrual health challenges faced by girls and women, advocating for a dignified and confident approach to menstruation.
“Menstruation is a natural biological process experienced by half of the world’s population, yet it remains shrouded in stigma, silence and shame,” he stated.
He highlighted the harmful practices and misinformation that arise from these taboos and called for comprehensive menstrual health education in schools.
“We prioritise the provision of adequate menstrual hygiene facilities, including clean and private WASH facilities, access to clean water and disposal facilities for menstrual products,” he noted.
These efforts, he said, are essential for the health and well-being of female students and contribute to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
He urged parents, guardians and teachers to play their roles as protectors of learners, advocating for breaking the silence and challenging the stigma surrounding menstruation.
He also called on Parliament and government leaders to pass a law removing taxes on menstrual pads and supporting local production to reduce period poverty.
