Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene, break stigma around menstruation, and raise awareness about challenges regarding access to menstrual products.
Gender inequality, discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, poverty and lack of basic services like toilets and sanitary products can all add up to the challenges surrounding menstrual health and hygiene.
The theme for Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 is “Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.” The overarching goal is to build a world where no one is held back because they menstruate by 2030.
Together, we can create a world where menstruation is seen as a normal part of life, free from shame and discrimination.
Celebrating this day in Akuapem South, Empowering Minds, a non governmental organization which empowers women, supports the aged, deprived children in education and health among others donated over 500 sanitary pads to female Students in the municipality.
The team did not just donate sanitary pads but also educated them on menstrual and general hygiene.
In an interview with the founder of Empowering Minds, Mrs Fidelia Quansah Fianko, she highlighted how some female students misses class activities during menstrual period and others failing to afford sanitary pads.
“This is a way we can help children that cannot afford sanitary pads and those that misses class during their menstrual period”, she said.
She urged the children to see mensuration as normal and must not in any way deprive them of their studies.
Mrs. Quansah Fianko called on government to cancel the 20% tax on sanitary pads for it affordability.
The celebration which was in collaboration with the Akuapem South Education Directorate saw over seven (7) schools benefiting from the donation.
The Obodan M/A Basic school, Akwakupowmu L/A Basic school, Obotweri Basic School, Asheresu L/A Basic school, Dago M/A Basic school among others all benefited from the donation.
On her part, the Municipal Girls Education Officer at the Akuapem South Education Directorate, Mrs. Elizabeth Safoa Darko expressed her thankfulness to Empowering Minds for such a gesture in the municipality.
She accounted how some school girls in the municipality stays home during menstrual period due to the myth associated with it.
“This situation has been affecting attendance and studies”, she added.
Mrs Sarfoa Darko called on female professionals to fight for women by calling on government to scrap the 20% tax on sanitary pads.
Elizabeth Otubea Ayeh, a student of Dago M/A Basic school disclosed how her parents fail to buy her sanitary pad during her menstrual period.
According to her, her parents sometimes are unable to afford sanitary pad for her, and this forces her to use either toilet roll or cloth.
She, together with other beneficiaries thanked the foundation for remembering them in this manner.
