To commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, Hollard Insurance has distributed 5,000 sanitary pads to students across six schools in Ghana.
This initiative aims to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and support young girls in managing their menstrual health with dignity.
In the Northern Region, the distribution event took place at Vittin Senior High School, where representatives from Hollard Insurance, accompanied by a health expert, addressed the students about the importance of menstrual hygiene.
The Northern Regional Manager at Hollard, Seleiman Ali Darabo, emphasized the need for proper menstrual health management to ensure that girls can attend school without interruptions and achieve their educational goals.
“We believe that every girl deserves to go to school without the fear of embarrassment or stigma associated with menstruation. Providing these sanitary pads is a step towards ensuring that they have the resources they need to manage their periods comfortably and confidently,” he said.
Dr. Freda Karbo, a doctor at the Gynecological and Obstetric unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, expressed concern about the lack of knowledge among adolescent girls regarding their menstrual cycle. She urged both parents and teachers to continue educating them and to create safe spaces for the girls to discuss issues related to their sexuality. Dr. Karbo also highlighted the rampant diseases adolescent girls contract due to ignorance of proper menstrual hygiene.
“We’ve seen several girls come in at the verge of dying due to ignorance of menstrual hygiene, and it is a call for concern,” she said.
The Assistant Headmistress Domestic of Vittin Senior High described the intervention as timely, noting that some of the girls had never seen a sanitary pad before. She called for a more comprehensive education package in the future that includes abortion care and family planning.
Students expressed their gratitude for the support, highlighting how such initiatives help them stay focused on their studies. One student, Zuleiha Alhassan, shared her thoughts: “This donation means a lot to us. It helps us attend classes without worrying about where to get sanitary pads. We feel supported and cared for.”
The initiative by Hollard Insurance is part of a broader campaign to promote menstrual hygiene education and reduce period poverty. The beneficiary schools include Nwawasua MA Basic School in Sunyani, Ahantaman Senior High School in Takoradi, Methodist Day Senior High in Tema, Atwima Kwanwoma Senior High Technical (AKASS) in Trede, Kumasi, and Vittin Senior High Technical School in Tamale.
The insurance company plans to continue its efforts in partnership with local schools and communities to ensure that no girl misses school because of her period.
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