Empowering Girls Through Education and Health: Free Sanitary Pads for Girls in School – A Landmark Initiative.
It was genuinely an honour to be formally introduced to His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, by the distinguished Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education, at the launch of the Free Sanitary Pads for the Girls in School programme. That moment was not just my personal milestone, but it was also the most impressive manifestation of a national level commitment to gender equality and inclusive education.
The programme provides for the first time ever the missing link in addressing one of the most underserved areas of girls’ education and menstrual health. The provision of sanitary pads at the school level in effect translates to better support to remain in class studying without the mess of having no means to manage the monthly period. To for many, and especially those in underserved areas, sanitary pads are nonexistent, absence from school represent one manifestation of lack, or in some of the worst cases, dropping out altogether.
Because I am a reformer and socially inclined, I will take pride in the fact that I am a part of an active group which pushes for quality education becoming accessible to all genders and be they so rich or poor. It is not only about hygiene, but having dignity, chances and learning in distinction.
Together, they lay the foundation for a more equitable future in which each girl has the tools and support to succeed. I await the opportunity to make a critical contribution to such vital work and see the positive repercussions such an initiative will have within communities across the country.
#GirlsEducation#MenstrualHealthMatters#EducationForAll#QualityEducation#EquityInEducation
Dr. Munawaru Issahaque, GES, Deputy Director General for Quality and Access
