The Eastern Regional Health Directorate in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) on May 28,2026 commemorated this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day at Koforidua Asokore in the New Juaben North Municipality with a renewed call for intensified education to dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation.
The event brought together health officials, education authorities, students, teachers, queenmothers, and officials from New Juaben North to create awareness on menstrual hygiene management and promote dignity among adolescent girls in schools.
Facilitators at the programme used the occasion to address deeply rooted misconceptions about menstruation, including beliefs that menstruating girls are unhygienic, should not cook, cannot perform normal duties, or may bring curses to crops when they touch them.
Some school girls who participated in the programme admitted they previously believed menstruation was a sign of witchcraft due to misinformation and inadequate reproductive health education.
Public Health Nurse at the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, Edith Asiedua, said the Directorate is shifting part of the menstrual hygiene awareness campaign to out of school that parents and guardians and communities to help tackle misinformation at home and also educate on the importance of menstrual hygiene.
According to her, many misconceptions surrounding menstruation are perpetuated within families, making parental involvement critical in promoting proper menstrual hygiene education.
Eastern Regional Girls Education Officer, Patricia Brago Gyamfi, disclosed that government is considering the procurement of reusable sanitary pads to complement the sanitary pads currently being distributed to adolescent girls across the country.
The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben North, Hon. Samuel Adongo, supported the programme with quantities of sanitary pads for distribution to students.
He also announced plans by the Assembly to construct modern toilet and changing room facilities for girls in basic schools across the municipality to improve menstrual hygiene management in schools.
Other issues discussed during the programme included the proper disposal of sanitary pads and the need for boys and men to support menstrual hygiene advocacy to help end stigma associated with menstruation.
The celebration was supported by various organizations including DMAC Foundation,Telecel Ghana, which donated sanitary pads for distribution to both male and female students as part of efforts to promote menstrual health awareness and gender inclusion.
Sanitary pads were distributed to both girls and boys drawn from various schools in the municipality.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
