By Alex Adi
AABryt Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to promoting reproductive and menstrual health as well as gender equality, has welcomed the government’s groundbreaking initiative to provide free sanitary pads to teenage girls across the country, particularly in underserved and underprivileged communities.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing period poverty, improving menstrual hygiene, and empowering teenage girls to lead healthier, more dignified lives. The government’s program, “Free Sanitary Pads,” aligns with AABryt Foundation’s long-standing mission to break the stigma around menstruation and ensure access to affordable, high-quality menstrual products for all teenage girls.
“We commend the government for its commitment to menstrual health and its focus on reaching underserved communities, including students, low-income households, and rural populations. Access to sanitary products is a basic human right, and this initiative will have a transformative impact on the lives of millions of menstruating teenage girls,” said Diana Akosua Adutwumwaa Britwum, Founder of AABryt Foundation.
In a statement issued in Accra, the founder emphasized that the success of this program will depend on effective implementation, sustained funding, and continued efforts to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation. The foundation has expressed its readiness to support the government in achieving these goals and has recommended key initiatives, including:
- Community Engagement: Ensuring that local communities, especially teenage girls, are actively involved in the planning and implementation of the program to address their specific needs.
- Education and Awareness: Expanding efforts to educate communities about menstrual health and hygiene, challenging taboos, and fostering open conversations.
- Sustainability: Prioritizing the use of eco-friendly and reusable menstrual products to reduce environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability. Additionally, encouraging local manufacturers and importers by cutting import taxes to lower the cost of sanitary pads.
- Monitoring and Transparency: Establishing clear mechanisms for monitoring the distribution of sanitary products and measuring the program’s impact on school attendance, health outcomes, and gender equality, among others.
Over the past three years, AABryt Foundation has been at the forefront of menstrual health advocacy, working to provide free menstrual products, education, and support in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Oti, Eastern, Central, and Volta regions. The foundation has donated more than 15,000 sanitary pads to over 3,000 teenage girls.
The foundation is calling on all stakeholders, civil society organizations, private sector partners, and individuals to collaborate with the government in making this initiative a success.
