IN A BOLD move to support menstrual health and improve school attendance among girls, the Government of Ghana has officially launched the National Free Sanitary Pad for Girls in School program in Accra. The initiative aims to provide free sanitary pads to girls of school-going age across the country.
Launched under the theme: “Improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene for Girls for Quality Education,” the event marked a significant collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. The initiative forms part of the government’s commitment to fulfill its 120-day social contract with Ghanaians.
According to the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the program targets approximately five million Ghanaian girls who currently require proper menstrual hygiene materials.
She emphasized that the days of using a piece of red cloth (boe) must be left behind, noting the critical role that access to sanitary pads plays in the health, dignity and academic performance of young girls.
Dr. Naa Momo Lartey explained that the program would help eliminate absenteeism among schoolgirls during their periods and reduce the stigma associated with menstruation. She also highlighted the urgent need for appropriate facilities and education in menstrual hygiene, especially in marginalized communities that face the greatest barriers.
The launch, which saw the support of the Minister for Education and President John Dramani Mahama, sets the tone for a national commitment to ensuring that no girl is left behind in education due to menstruation.
The initiative has been widely praised as a progressive step toward gender equality, youth empowerment and inclusive education.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
