In a significant move towards promoting menstrual hygiene education, the Ga Mantse Foundation, in collaboration with Adwinsa Publications and the Father Campbell SVD Foundation, organized an event to observe Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, 2024. The event took place at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall, Palladium in Accra, under the auspices of King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council.

The program, themed "Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030," attracted a diverse audience, including students, queen mothers, and opinion leaders. The primary focus was to educate young girls on the importance of personal hygiene during menstruation and to destigmatize this natural biological process.

During the event, the menstrual hygiene book “No More Suffering in Silence: An Illustrated Guide on Menstruation” by Rhoda Kadoa Wedam was launched on the eCampus app. The book aims to help parents, teachers, girls, women, boys, and men understand the significance of menstruation, the importance of menstrual hygiene, and the collective responsibility of everyone in providing a supportive environment.

Rhoda Kadoa Wedam, a menstrual hygiene advocate and founder of the Song-Ba Empowerment Centre in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana, authored the book to address the misinformation, shame, and stigma surrounding menstruation. “No More Suffering in Silence” is available in English, French, and Arabic and can be accessed globally through the eCampus mobile and web platforms.

The launch was marked by several dignitaries committed to advancing menstrual hygiene advocacy. Madam Beata Akanjani, Chairperson for the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in the Water and Sanitation Sector (CONIWAS), highlighted the theme “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld” and addressed the challenges faced by girls in Ghana due to inadequate WASH facilities and lack of sanitary products.

Rev. Sanatu Nantogma, Executive Director of Tuma Kavi Development Association, officially launched the book, emphasizing the importance of education in reducing gender inequality and improving societal health. She cited a 2011 UNESCO study showing that every extra year of a woman’s schooling reduces the probability of infant mortality by 5 to 10 percent.

Mrs. Linda Amoah, Girl Child Coordinator for the Northern Region, represented the Northern Regional Director of Ghana Education Service. She mentioned that misinformation about menstruation often has a negative impact on girls and that the launch of the book would help address these issues.

Bhanu Pathak, Chief of Mission for UNICEF, Tamale, extended his solidarity message, emphasizing UNICEF's focus on sanitation and hygiene as a global concern. He announced that UNICEF would support the dissemination of the book in Ghana.

Other dignitaries and partners, including the Sabta-Naa of the Dagbon, World Vision, Afram Plains Development Organization, Catholic Relief Services, and Adamfo Ghana, also shared their solidarity messages.

To make the book widely accessible, 10,000 copies of the paperback book will be distributed to schools across Ghana in the first phase this year. The interactive digital version is available globally online via the eCampus app, ensuring that girls and boys have access to essential menstrual hygiene education.

Source by www.ghanaweb.com