Sanitary pads must be given to vulnerable females for free - Queen mother tells government

The development queen mother of Afigya-Kwabre in the Ashanti Region who doubles as the Executive Director for the Obaapa Development Foundation, Nanahemaa Adjoa Awindor has a re-echoed her organization’s campaign on menstrual hygiene management and called on government and other stakeholders to ensure that sanitary pads are distributed freely to young females and vulnerable women in Ghana.

This is to help ensure personal hygiene during their menstrual cycle period, most especially in this hard time of COVID-19 pandemic, she added.

She said menstruation is a natural phenomenon amongst all women and girls. It is also a part of the cycle in the lives of all women to prepare them for a possible pregnancy.

The entire world observes the World Menstrual Hygiene Day on the 28th May of every year and the year 2020 edition was celebrated under the theme “it’s time for action" with most organizations focusing their discussions on periods in this pandemic.

The entire world is battling against the coronavirus pandemic that has wrecked millions of lives. Even as people stay indoors, it has become more important to fight against the stigma pertaining to menstrual hygiene.

The virus has also brought in financial problems for people across the world.

Hence the Obaapa Development Foundation led by Nanahemaa Adjoa Awindor is calling on the government of Ghana to ensure sanitary pads are freely distributed to adolescent girls and vulnerable women in the society to help them maintain hygiene during their menstrual times in this hard times.

She added that there is the need for stakeholders to help donate sanitary pads and other materials to aide successful menstruation to our dear females in the society.

Many girls in rural areas who have had access to these items from their schools and other donors are not able to get them now due to the lockdown, additionally, as many women stay home, they are faced with an urgent need to fight off the stigma related to menstruation.

She also used the opportunity to call on the general public to do away with the stigma associated with Menstruation since it is a natural phenomenon and a part of the life cycle of a women which in God's wisdom prepares a woman for Pregnancy.

Speaking in an Interview with Owoahemaa Afia Acheampong on Eastern FM, she called on the general public, stakeholders and heads of organizations to all aide and support the fight for menstrual hygiene awareness creation.

She added, most females are neglected and treated as a non-entity during their menstrual period because of the stigma attached to it. NanaHemaa condemned the act and encourage the general public to desist from it.

She entreated the ladies most especially the girl child to maintain personal hygiene during their menstrual period such as bathing regularly, changing of their sanitary pads from time to time and amongst other menstrual hygiene protocols practiced to help keep themselves clean and to avoid of unpleasant smell.

The Greetings From Abroad Television Host and First President of the Continental Executive Board of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN), is also the Development Queen Mother of Afigya-Kwabre in the Ashanti Region.

Nanahemaa Adjoa Awindor, who also doubles as the Chief Executive Officer for the Obaapa Development Foundation, hinted that they are planning on distributing free sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene materials to some Women and Girls on their Teenage Mothers Back to School Project in three regions in Ghana (Ashanti, Volta and Eastern), as well as some Vulnerable Women in some of their beneficiary districts. Nana said the gesture, is to enable the recipients feel comfortable and well protected in these hard times, during their menstrual cycle.

She called on the general public to support OBAAPA Development Foundation’s efforts and replicate the gesture at other locations across the country.

Nana acknowledged the partnership and support of organizations such as Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, UNICEF, UNFPA, PATH, World Vision Ghana in their Advocacy and Campaigns such as Ghanaians Against Child Abuse (GACA), Ending Early Child Marriage & FGM, NewbornCare, etc.