Angela List, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nguvu Mining Limited and Adamus Resources, has presented 150 boxes of sanitary pads to some schools in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The beneficiary schools are; Anwia Catholic, Nkroful Methodist, Nkroful Catholic, Nyaniba Basic, Asanda SDA and Kikam Methodist and host of others to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD) celebration in the area.
The global theme for the celebration was “#PeriodFriendlyWorld” and theme from the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Ellembelle District was “Together for a period friendly circuit”.
In her remarks, Ms. List pointed out that “some of our girls lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual health”.
She noted that poor menstrual health and hygiene undercut fundamental rights for women, girls and people who menstruate, worsening social and economic inequalities.
“So, there is the need for them to be supported during this period because, there are serious health risks if menstruation is unhygienically managed. So, we are here to ensure that they manage themselves properly during this period”, she said.
Ms. List continued that good menstrual health and hygiene practices could prevent infections, reduce odours, and help the individual stay comfortable during menstruation.
Therefore, she advised the girls to ensure proper dieting during menstruation; “take more iron-based foods to replenish the blood discharged”.
She also educated the boys on menstrual hygiene to support the girls and their sisters during this period instead of stigmatizing them.
She explained, “Menstruation is not a disease, some are unable to go to school because of their menstrual cycle. And there are misconceptions created in certain circles that if a girl is menstruating, she is not clean and must not be allowed to cook among others”.
She encouraged the girls to talk to their mothers and female teachers anytime they have challenge during their menstruation. “Pay attention to menstrual hygiene whenever you are within this period and then wrap your sanitary pad in a piece of paper or tissue and dispose it in a trash can. Try as much as possible to keep yourself clean and change your sanitary pad as soon as it becomes heavy”, she advised.
