Fanmilk Ghana Limted, a prominent dairy and beverage company in Ghana and producers of Fanice, has marked this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day with over 4,000 menstruating girls in Mallam Cluster of Schools. The company collaborated with an NGO, Inspire Today, to refresh 8 different schools within the Weija Gbawe Municipal Education Directorate.
Fanmilk Ghana, now a subsidiary of Danone Group, says it is passionate about engaging in activities that support local communities, such as educational programmes, health initiatives and community development projects. They expressed joy in partnering Inspire Today to mark Menstrual Hygiene Day as these efforts help in improving the quality of life for people in areas where they operate.
Founder and executive Director for Inspire Today, Etornam Sey, expressed gratitude to the team at Fanmilk Ghana for their consistent support over the past five years in helping maintain healthy eating habits among menstruating girls. “As an NGO, we do not have the financial muscle to take on such huge numbers; and that is why we are grateful to corporate institutions like Fanmilk Ghana who consistently come through for these girls each time we call on them. At Inspire Today, we believe that every girl, irrespective of your geographical location or economic background, deserves a dignified menstruation. In low-income countries, the choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by the costs, availability and social norms; and that is where we come in with this intervention to ensure the girls remain in school.”
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management. It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014. Since then, individuals, corporate institutions and NGO’s such as Inspire Today have seized the day to champion the course of women and girls who do not have access to sanitary pads.
The theme for this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day is ‘Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld’. This is because we believe that in a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, the stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation are history. It is a world where everyone can access the products and be educated on periods and period-friendly infrastructure they need.
