Melcom Care Foundation has presented hundred cartons of sanitary pads to “Touching The Lives of Girls Foundation International” to support School Girls in two regions ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene Day slated for May 28.
Speaking at the a short ceremony in Accra to handover the item to The Foundation, Director of Communications at Melcom Group of Companies, Godwin Avenorgbo on Monday, 24th May 2021 stressed the need for them “to lend a supportive hand to the initiative of “Touching The Lives Of Girls Foundation International” by donating 100 cartons of Sanitary Pads made up of 2,000 pieces in favour of the two centres chosen for this campaign as follows: Ho, Volta Region — 1000 pieces Obuasi, Ashanti Region – 1000 pieces”
In connection with the celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Mr. Avenorgbo said Melcom Care Foundation was pleased to associate with “Touching The Lives of Girls Foundation International” by extending support to needy Female school going Pupils and Students in the regular maintenance of menstrual hygiene which he emphasized “is very necessary for the protection of female reproductive health”.
According to him, they are aware that in many rural communities in Ghana: The lack of Sanitary Pad promotes the use of unhygienic materials by young school going girls and that “many girls absent themselves from school during the period of their menstrual cycle and quite a number suffer the embarrassment of soiling their school uniforms through leakage and many other avoidable experiences not worth recounting here”.
Supported by Director of Brand Management, Sonya Sadhwani, Godwin Avenorgbo noted that “Melcom Care accepts without question that the Female Menstrual Cycle is God’s design for the full attainment of quality female reproductive health which cannot be ignored regardless of the financial status of the individual or family”.
He hoped that this can relieve the hardship and expense of acquiring Sanitary Pads by needy school going children with its expected impact to “build confidence in the young female – enable regular school attendance without break, avoidance of embarrassing experiences which make girls shy away from public appearances and discourage the use of unhealthy materials which are harmful – promote over all personal health and quality living”
The CEO of ‘Touching Lives of Girls Foundation International”, Nana Ama Adutwumwaa, was grateful to Melcom and pledged to give the pads to the needy students in the selected regions.
He said, research conducted by her office revealed that apart from the health aspect, there is also a key factor of these girls dropping out of school because of the lack of sanitary pads most of the girls use unwholesome materials”.
As a result, “we have started giving out free pads to girls as a bail to keep them stay in school which has reduced absenteeism among girls”.
The Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Afia Tenge, who could not hide her joy, reiterated the need for all to support girls to stay in class but she asked the foundation to extend the sanitary education and it distributions to other rural communities in other regions.
She promised to join the campaign to educate young girls on issues of domestic violent, defilement and rape which are paramount to them as law enforcement officers.
BACKGROUND
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level. It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014.
In developing countries, womens’ choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by the costs, availability and social norms.
Adequate sanitation facilities and access to feminine hygiene products are one part of the solution. Creating a culture that welcomes discussion and makes adequate education for women and girls is of equal importance. Research has found that not having access to menstrual hygiene management products can keep girls home from school during their period each month.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an occasion for publicizing information in the media, including social media.
Public information campaigns can help to engage decision-makers in policy dialogue. The day provides an opportunity to actively advocate for the integration of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) into global, national and local policies and programs.
Story by Edzorna Francis Mensah
