The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Gregory Andrews, and his wife, Rachael Andrews marked the 2021 Menstrual Hygiene Day at Agbozume Sukladzi R/C School in the Volta Region of Ghana.
The Australian High Commission partnered with journalist, Selorm Helen for “The Period Aid Project” to donate sanitary pads to over 500 adolescent school girls at Agbozume-Klikor in the Volta Region.
The event saw the participation of the Member of Parliament for Ketu South Constituency, Abla Dzifa Gomashie who ceased the opportunity to inspire the young students to take their personal hygiene seriously and study hard to become responsible citizens and impact positively in their community.
The event attracted four schools, Logove A.M.E Zion, Klikor Unity number 1 & 2, Lotakor E.P Basic School, and the host school Agbozume Sukladzi R/C who held colorful procession under the escort of two Police Officers through some major streets of Agbozume and Klikor to raise awareness about the Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Mrs. Rachael Andrews who was the Main Speaker for the event on the theme “Menstruation and Stigma: The impact on girl child education and the female empowerment agenda” entreated the students not to be ashamed during their menstrual period adding that “it is a natural phenomenon of every woman which does not discriminate among rich and poor or black or white”
The day was climax with a practical demonstration of how to sanitary pad is lined in the panties with male teachers, male students, and their female counterparts competing.
In an interview with Awake News, the project initiator, Selorm Helem explained that Agbozume and Klikor are typical traditional settings dominated by taboos. She said some homes and churches do not allow women in their menstrual period to cook food or enter the church auditorium hence the choice for the area to help destigmatize menstruation.
The Guest of Honour, Ambassador Gregory Andrews launched the Pad Bank which the project coordinator, Selorm Helen said is to help store some sanitary pads in the beneficiary school at all times to aid the need for the commodity in emergency times by the students.
See some photos:
