Adaklu: Miss Linda Ahinma Effisah, a Nursing Student at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), emphasized that menstruation is a natural and healthy process and not a curse or disease. She advised adolescent girls to dismiss the myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation.
According to Ghana News Agency, Miss Effisah made these remarks during a donation event where level one Nursing students from UHAS gifted over one hundred sanitary pads to adolescent girls at Adaklu Kodzobi District Assembly Basic School in the Adaklu district. The students' initiative was driven by the realization that many teenage girls in the area could not afford sanitary pads. They established a non-governmental organization named 'Nurses for Dignity' to support these girls.
Miss Effisah highlighted the importance of menstrual hygiene and educated the girls on managing their menstruation safely. She noted that some girls still resort to using napkins and rags, which is an unhealthy practice that could lead to cervical cancer due to improper cleaning and reusing of these items. She advised the girls to wash their hands thoroughly with soap before using pads, as unclean hands could spread germs.
She further urged the girls to wear cotton pants during menstruation for better hygiene. Miss Effisah also appealed to religious bodies, philanthropists, and NGOs to assist in providing essential menstrual items to schoolgirls.
Mr. Charles Kugbeadzor, the Headteacher of the school, expressed gratitude to the students for their support, noting that it would boost the girls' morale. During the visit, the students also demonstrated the proper way to use sanitary pads. A similar donation event was held at Kodzobi Ando District Assembly Basic School.
