As the world marks this year’s World Menstrual Health Day, the Chief Executive of the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality in the Western Region has distributed about 300 sanitary pads to adolescent female students from a cluster of schools in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality.
Speaking to Channel One News on Wednesday, May 28, at a Menstrual Health Day sensitisation programme organised by the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Education Directorate, MCE Abdul-Majeed Dokurigu called on the adolescent students to take their hygiene seriously.
He said the distribution of the sanitary pads is in fulfilment of the government’s promise to support all school-going menstruating girls to stay clean and healthy. He also announced plans to distribute over 2,000 more sanitary pads within the month.
“Respect your parents and teachers, and be the change we want to see in society. The government is, however, committed to keeping its promise of distributing free sanitary pads for all adolescents. So, in line with the President’s initiative, what we are doing is to ensure that the girls in the basic schools who pass through this menstrual cycle get free sanitary pads.
“Today’s programme for the cluster of schools covers 300 students, and I know that tomorrow too, there will be another zone of cluster of schools. We are going to have this series of sensitisation to cover every student,” he said.
A Health Promotion Officer at the EKMA Health Directorate, Emelia Kpodo, who led the sensitisation and demonstration on menstrual health, highlighted essential hygiene practices menstruating girls must observe and called for strict adherence to avoid infections.
“Don’t use Dettol to wash your private part during menstruation. Change pads regularly, wash hands before and after changing the pad, and ensure regular bathing,” she urged.
The occasion was also used to educate students on the proper use and disposal of menstrual pads.
