EGAL asks for first aid in schools to ensure menstrual hygiene

General News on Friday, June 7, 2019

Source: Michael Oberteye

2019-06-07

Program Coordinator for Empire of Golden Age Leadership, EGAL, an NGO and organizer of World Day of Menstrual Hygiene 2019 in Manya Krobo, advocates for the establishment of first aid centers in different schools across the country to facing the ongoing challenge of schoolgirls during their menstrual cycle.

Daniel Owiredu believes this step could significantly reduce the "trauma" experienced by first-time girls.

If necessary, sanitary napkins should be used as first aid in different schools, said Mr Owiredu during an interview.

His call comes as Ghana joined Tuesday the world to celebrate the International Day of Menstrual Hygiene (MH), a global advocacy platform launched in 2014 and observed every year to promote good health management practices. menstrual hygiene and raise awareness of the challenges facing women. during menstruation.

Based on the theme; Now is the time to act on menstrual hygiene management, "which focuses on policy and decision-making in order to prioritize the management of hygiene. menstrual and abolish taxes on menstrual hygiene products, provide toilets suitable for women and disabled people with locker rooms ensure the safety and confidentiality of girls during menstruation and step up education in order to reduce the myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation.

Mr. Owiredu, who expressed concern about the difficulties girls face in school during their menstrual cycle, asked what affected girls would do in such circumstances. "If there is no first aid at school, what will the girl do?" He asked.

As part of its proposals on what could be done to solve the problem, the program coordinator urged the manufacturers of sanitary napkins to set up a program for elementary schools. "There should be a consensus between the different sanitary napkin manufacturing industries in Ghana," he said, adding that this should be done under the auspices of the government and implemented as part of the process. 39, a program for elementary schools.

The program director, who revealed that most of the washrooms visited in different schools were locked, asked schools to provide functional toilets in schools where students can go during their periods to relieve themselves. He hoped that it would serve as a practical starting point for girls during menstruation.

LAPAG, National President of the Ghana Association of Female Pharmacists (GPA), has called for the elimination of taxes on sanitary towels to increase its price for girls. "There should be a way to remove taxes on sanitary towels so that girls can be affordable," Naana Quayson said.

The national president of LAPAG, who stated that the badociation's participation in menstrual hygiene stemmed from its program to promote the health of women and children, took time to explain the menstrual process to girls.

Naana Quayson, while explaining that the menstrual process is not a disease, but a natural phenomenon, advised them not to invoke the condition as a reason to stay away from school.

Highlighting the need for girls to have a safe menstrual cycle, Naana Quayson called for a collaboration between LAPAG and educational authorities on the need to provide national resources and urged teachers and students, boys and girls , to understand the menstrual cycle and to appreciate the menstrual process.

The goal of the badociation, she added, is to ensure that sanitary towels are affordable, available and accessible to girls.

International Menstrual Hygiene Day aims to address the challenges women face during menstruation.

It is about breaking the silence, changing the negative social norms around SWM, engaging policymakers in strengthening policy priorities and catalysing action for SLM at the national and international levels. subnational.