The Education Students Association of Ghana (ESAG) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has presented over 800 menstrual pads to selected female students from some Basic Schools in the Cape Coast Municipality.
The beneficiary students were drawn from St. Michael Girls JSS, Kwaporow M/A JHS, Bakatsir Methodist JHS, Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind.
Each of the girls received a month supply of menstrual pads to help them manage their menstruation safely, so they do not miss school for lack of pads.
The event had the theme “Breaking the Stigma, Empowering the Girl Child” and dubbed “Pad a girl Outreach,” was organised by the office of the Women’s Commission of ESAG.
The presentation of the pads and the health education was part of activities marking this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, which is celebrated on May 28 every year.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Women’s Commissioner of ESAG, Miss. Ernestina Nettey, said some girls stay away from school during their monthly menstrual cycle because they feel shy that their male counterparts may find out and ridicule them.
“Boys should also be made aware that it is a natural occurrence in women; they should also be educated so they can assist their friends, sisters and mothers, such stigmatisation should not hinder girls from going about their duties when they are in their menstrual period,” she said.
She called for increased public awareness to eradicate the misconceptions, myths and negative perceptions about menstruation.
“Most girls feel shy about their menses and go through it secretively, unfortunately, most of them do not maintain proper menstrual hygiene and this predisposes them to many life-threatening diseases.”
Speaking at the event, the Vice- President of ESAG, Miss Eunice Kyerewaa Osei, said over the years, ESAG had held events in different parts of the Cape Coast aimed at educating girls on the importance of proper menstrual hygiene and also distributed sanitary pads to girls in some communities.
She expressed gratitude to Office of the Provost of the College of Education for supporting this year’s event.
The General Secretary of ESAG, Magaret Asirifi, in her remarks, observed that menstruation was a normal biological process and a key sign of reproductive health, yet in many cultures it was treated as something negative, shameful or dirty.
She said all schools must have a menstrual-friendly environment by having changing rooms for girls to change while in their menses at school to make them feel comfortable.
International Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28 to raise awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management and to advocate for a world where no woman or girl is held back because of menstruation.
