Walewale: Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, has urged the government to ensure the effective implementation of the Free Pad Initiative, particularly in hard-to-reach rural communities, to enhance inclusivity.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Tchona emphasized the importance of sustainable investment in menstrual health education and school sanitation facilities. He urged the government to promote large-scale local production of sanitary pads. Mr Tchona made these remarks at an event in Walewale, North East Region, commemorating this year's World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Organized by Plan International Ghana under the theme 'Together for a Period-Friendly Ghana,' the event gathered various stakeholders to raise awareness about the challenges women and girls face in managing menstruation and to advocate for increased investment in menstrual health education and WASH facilities in schools.
Mr Tchona commended the government for allocating GHc292.4 million in its 2025 budget for distributing free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools. He stated that this initiative would help reduce absenteeism, improve menstrual hygiene, and break the cycle of poverty that disproportionately affects girls. He reaffirmed Plan International Ghana's commitment to collaborating with the government and communities to advance menstrual equity and gender equality. The organization has implemented key interventions, such as supporting visually-impaired girls to advocate for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, constructing over 100 girl-friendly latrines, launching pad banks in schools and universities, and distributing reusable pads to over 150,000 girls.
Mr Ibrahim Tia, the North East Regional Minister, highlighted the significance of the celebration as a call to collective action to safeguard the dignity, health, and educational rights of young women. He praised Plan International Ghana for its continued support in the region's development efforts, noting the exemplary impact of their interventions under the Integrated Package for Sustainable Development (IPADEV) project. Mr Tia emphasized the vital role of parents and guardians in guiding and protecting children from harmful behaviors that could derail their future.
Reverend Ibrahim Sebiyam, Headmaster of Walewale Senior High/Technical School, expressed appreciation to the government and development partners for their support. He appealed to Plan International Ghana and other organizations to prioritize providing female-friendly toilet facilities, changing rooms, and potable water for the girls in the school. He noted the school's current reliance on the Community Water and Sanitation Agency for water supply, which he described as erratic and inadequate. With a student population of about 2,013, the school faces limited water storage facilities, which often forces students to leave campus in search of water, disrupting academic activities and leading to indiscipline.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed annually on May 28, is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about menstrual health and hygiene, promoting good practices, and dispelling myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation. As part of the celebration, Plan International Ghana distributed 1,000 reusable sanitary pads to girls at the school and provided education on their proper use.
