Kumasi, May 29, GNA – Lady Julia Osei Tutu, the Wife of Asantehene, has rallied for support from all Ghanaians to join the menstrual hygiene education campaign to end the stigmatisation of menstruation and its related issues at all levels.
She said menstruation was not a taboo, adding that girls should be bold to speak about it and get educated on menstrual hygiene.
Speaking at the 2022 Menstrual Hygiene Day in Kumasi, Lady Julia noted that Ghana’s continued education on such topics and sexual abuse education were the best ways to imbibe confidence and boldness into young girls.
“Let us not end the conversation here. We should be able to educate and champion campaigns on menstrual hygiene and sexual abuse wherever we find ourselves”.
This year’s celebration was themed “Breaking the Silence”, and was used to educate over 1,000 school girls drawn from senior and junior high schools in the Asokwa and Oforikrom Municipalities.
It was put together by Touching the Lives Girls Foundation International, an NGO that provides education and support for girls, with support from Ashanti Regional Directorate of Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Girls Education Unit.
It attracted high profile speakers including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Afia Tenge, Police Public Relations officer for Volta Region, Professor Mrs. Ibok Oduro, President for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Ms. Mary Owusu Afriyie, Ashanti Regional Director, GES.
Lady Julia advised the students not to relent in reporting to the appropriate authorities whenever they were intimidated or harassed, adding that it should be done irrespective of the person’s status in society.
It would also ensure that victims received the required medical attention.
“Gone are the Days those children were seen and not heard, you have to come out and report whenever it comes to sexual abuse,” she observed.
Lady Julia, who is also a patron for the NGO, pledged their continued support to girls and boys to realize their potential.
DSP Tenge speaking on sexual abuse said the police were ready to bring miscreants who abused children in the society to book.
They had resolved several cases in the last few years, and imprisoned offenders who were found guilty.
Dr. John Bosomtwe, a Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecologist, at the St Dominic’s Hospital, educated girls on their menses, menstrual cycle, hygiene practices and the need to report all forms of vaginal infection.
He urged them to change sanitary pads regularly to avoid complications during menstruation.
Prof. Mrs Oduro advised the girls to learn harder and eschew all forms of lifestyles that would jeopardize their future.
The Foundation used the occasion to distribute sanitary pads to the school girls.
Source: Ghana News Agency
