School girls in Assin South District benefit from DCE’s sanitary pads initiative

Mr Jonathan Birikorang, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Assin South has donated over 2,000 sanitary pads to 100 public basic and 36 private schools to promote menstrual dignity and hygiene.

Some of the beneficiary schools included Sibinso Catholic, Nyankumasi Ahenkro ‘A’ and ‘B’, Nyankumasi Ahenkro Methodist, Odumasi D/A Basic School and many others.

The DCE said the donation of the sanitary pads were in fulfilment of President John Dramani Mahama’s promise to support all school going girls in the country to be clean and healthy during their menstrual cycle.

In addition, he noted that the donation was a giant step towards breaking the silence around menstruation, removing stigma and helping schoolgirls to stay focused on their education without fear or shame.

He also observed that a lot of girls do not go to school during menstruation, while others drop out of school due to lack of sanitary pads.

Mr Birikorang therefore charged the schoolgirls to use the pads and not to sell them.

He warned against the sale of the pads to schoolgirls, saying perpetrators would be handed over to the Ghana Police for prosecution.

Mr Isaac Opoku Inkoom, District Director of Education said menstruation was not a taboo but demonstrated that girls who had their periods were fertile.

He advised parents and guardians to provide sanitary pads for their daughters, so they do not soil their uniforms and compel them to be absent from school.

Source: GNA