Hohoe: The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), in collaboration with the Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI), USA, has organized a dissemination forum focused on menstrual hygiene and adolescent mental health. The event took place at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health (FNBSPH) Campus in Hohoe, under the theme 'Breaking the Silence: Menstrual Hygiene Management and Adolescent Mental Health in Ghana.' The forum gathered researchers, policymakers, health professionals, development partners, students, and civil society organizations to deliberate on findings from a three-year research project and to strategize on enhancing menstrual health outcomes for adolescent girls.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Smile Gavua Dzisi, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in charge of Management Services, delivered a keynote address emphasizing that menstruation is often unnecessarily enveloped in secrecy and stigma, despite being a natural biological process. Prof Dzisi highlighted that menstrual health encompasses more than just access to sanitary products, water, and toilets; it also involves dignity, confidence, and mental wellbeing. She pointed out that many girls miss school due to a lack of menstrual products, private sanitation facilities, or the fear of peer ridicule, which affects their education and self-esteem.
Prof Dzisi called for collective efforts to create educational environments where menstrual hygiene is normalized and girls can manage their periods with dignity. She also praised the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) and the government's Free Sanitary Pads initiative for improving school attendance and confidence among adolescent girls. Furthermore, she encouraged boys and men to support menstrual health and help end the associated stigma.
Mr. Prosper Kumi, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Hohoe, stressed that menstruation should not hinder adolescent girls from achieving their dreams. He emphasized the need for adequate access to sanitary products, proper sanitation facilities, and the elimination of misinformation and stigma, which currently undermine girls' confidence and participation in school and community activities. Mr. Kumi applauded UHAS, RGHI, and other stakeholders for their support and urged various societal leaders to contribute to breaking the silence surrounding menstruation.
Professor Frank Baiden, Dean of the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, described the event as a significant milestone for the university and the school. He noted that menstrual hygiene had only recently gained global research attention after years of being overshadowed by societal taboos. Professor Baiden commended Dr. Sitsofe Gbogbo and her research team for their dedication over the past three and a half years and expressed gratitude to the Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute for funding the project.
Dr. Sitsofe Gbogbo, Principal Investigator of the project, presented key research findings, advocating for menstrual health to be recognized not only as a sanitation and hygiene issue but also as a critical component of adolescent mental health and development. She highlighted that girls who cannot manage menstruation safely and with dignity are more prone to depression, anxiety, stress, shame, and social isolation. Dr. Gbogbo emphasized that investing in menstrual health is also an investment in education, gender equality, and adolescent development.
The forum also included the launch of a Book of Abstracts and attracted experts from academia, non-governmental organizations in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), university authorities, students, and representatives from selected second-cycle institutions. Participants called for increased investment, stronger partnerships, and sustained public education to ensure that no girl in Ghana is held back by menstruation.