Stanbic Bank has partnered Inspire Today, a non-governmental organization focused on supporting teenage girls in public schools, to provide sanitary pads to 1,000 teenage girls in the Gbawe Cluster of Schools in Accra.
The specific beneficiary schools include Gbawe Methodist Basic School 1, Gbawe Methodist Basic School 2, Gbawe Methodist Basic School 3, and Gonse Basic School 2, all under the Weija Gbawe Municipal Education Directorate.
The donations form part of a nationwide movement to support female leaders through concerted efforts at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Establish Good Health and Well-Being) and 5 (Enforce Gender Equality).
Communications officer at Stanbic Bank, Linda Ebale, said the partnership with Inspire Today was necessary.
“We couldn’t say no to Inspire Today when they approached us to support these young girls because our goals are aligned. Our commitment to supporting girls and women across Ghana is key to us because we want to close the gap regarding access to education between girls and boys. Girls should not be missing school in a 21st century because of menstruation, it is not acceptable,” she said.
Founder of Inspire Today Foundation, Etornam Sey noted that in a country where about 9 million Ghanaians survive on GH¢5 a day, it will be difficult to expect young women to pay between GH¢5 and GH¢8 cedis for sanitary pads.
“About 95 percent of the 1,000 teenage girls in the Gbawe Cluster of Schools here in Accra have never used sanitary pads. From pieces of cloth to tissue paper and the likes, the girls have to improvise as the price of sanitary pads continue to rise.
The conversation is currently ongoing on whether or not to take off the 20 percent tax on sanitary pads, while we are at it, these girls are bleeding every day and we cannot sit by and watch, we have to help. We are calling on philanthropist to come on board and support this cause,” she explained.
The girls were further provided with roll ons, shaving sticks, bathing soap and educational materials.
Inspire Today Foundation is a social intervention and network organization nurturing a nationwide movement of female leaders believing that every teenage girl deserves a dignified menstruation experience irrespective of their socio-economic background and geographical location.
