The assembly hall of Walewale Senior High and Technical School buzzed with excitement as approximately 1,000 reusable sanitary pads were distributed to female students by Plan International Ghana, a humanitarian and development organization. This initiative aims to help students feel more comfortable and confident during their periods, providing them with a reliable and sustainable option.
The event was part of the commemoration of Menstrual Health and Hygiene Day at the school.
During the gathering, Constant Tchona, the Country Director of Plan International Ghana, encouraged girls and women to embrace their periods, describing menstruation as a source of power.
Data indicates that many schools in Ghana lack essential menstrual hygiene facilities, including changing spaces, running water, disposal systems, and menstrual products. For numerous young girls, menstruation poses significant challenges, often leading them to isolation, limiting their mobility, or causing them to miss school. Cultural norms and insufficient WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure contribute to school dropouts among girls.
Many have praised President John Dramani Mahama for launching the Free Sanitary Pad Initiative. As distribution begins nationwide, Plan International Ghana is urging the government to ensure effective implementation, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas, and to invest sustainably in menstrual health education and school sanitation. The organization is also advocating for increased local production of sanitary pads.
Mr. Tchona remarked that the term “period” has long been shrouded in stigma and silence. “Today, that silence is broken.”
He emphasized that a Period Friendly Ghana is not just a slogan but a vision, reiterating Plan International Ghana’s commitment to promoting menstrual equity.
“Plan International Ghana remains dedicated to collaborating with the government and communities to advance menstrual equity and gender equality. We cannot achieve equality if periods are treated as problems. We cannot build a thriving Ghana if menstruation pushes girls to the margins. Supporting menstrual health means supporting dignity, education, the economy, and the future. To our girls and women, your period is your power, not your shame. To men and boys, be allies. Be informed. Be compassionate. Be proud. Remember: no period, no birth! No period, no child! No period, no boys! And most importantly, no period, no men.”
He urged leaders and policymakers to prioritize menstrual equity in health, education, and national development.
The North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, commended Plan International Ghana for its impactful work under the IPADEV project and called for extending interventions to the remaining five districts in the region. He also addressed the pressing issue of teenage pregnancy in the area, which stems from socio-economic challenges, cultural norms, and limited access to reproductive health education.
“It is time to break the silence, challenge harmful norms, and empower our young girls with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health and future. I remind all parents and guardians of their critical role in guiding and protecting their children. We must remain vigilant and involved in the lives of our young people to steer them away from harmful behaviors. As we commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, let us recommit ourselves to creating a region where every girl can thrive in dignity and safety, ensuring no girl is left behind in the North East Region.”
Rev. Ibrahim Sebiyam, headmaster of Walewale Senior High and Technical School, appealed to Plan International Ghana for a female-friendly KVIP toilet facility, changing rooms, and potable water for the school, highlighting the severe sanitation challenges faced by girls due to broken, inadequate, or abandoned toilet facilities.
The Menstrual Health and Hygiene Day event was held under the theme: “Period-Friendly Ghana.”
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