Tema, May 22, GNA — Residents of Tema have expressed mixed reactions to the free sanitary pad initiative for basic and secondary school girls, spearheaded by President John Dramani Mahama.
The distribution of the pad initiative aims at addressing period poverty and ensuring girls’ continued access to education.
The residents expressed the belief that providing free sanitary pads would alleviate financial burdens on families, improve hygiene and better health outcomes, and help girls overcome some challenges they face during their periods, such as school absenteeism, especially in the rural areas.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Nana Junior Mensah, an environmental officer, said that the sanitary pads should be easily accessible through schools, community centres, or healthcare facilities and ensure that distribution would be efficient to address any potential logistical problems.
Mr Mensah noted that “the programme must ensure that the sanitary pads meet hygiene standards and are comfortable for girls. The quality of the pad is very important,” he said.
He suggested that the sanitary pad should be produced in Ghana to prevent excessive use of money on imported sanitary pads.
Miss Adwoa Amissah, a food vendor, mentioned that the initiative should include educational components like menstrual hygiene
management workshops to help reduce stigma, provide essential knowledge, and empower girls.
“The programme should not be only about distribution of sanitary pads; the girl child must be educated on menstrual hygiene,” she said.
Miss Amissah emphasised that boys must also be educated about menstruation to reduce stigma, promote empathy and encourage them to support their female peers.
Madam Elegance Acheampong, a hairstylist, suggested that the programme’s effectiveness should be monitored through data collection, surveys, and feedback from girls and the community to help improve its implementation.
“We are hopeful that the initiative will make a significant difference in the lives of schoolgirls,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Sawer/Christian Akorlie