Changing Rooms And Tax-Free Sanitary Pads-U/E SHS students

Senior High School Students in Upper East Region Demand changing room and Tax-Free Sanitary Pads

Senior high school students in the Upper East Region of Ghana took a bold step to voice their concerns and demands for  provision of changing rooms and tax-free sanitary pads to  improve menstrual hygiene  in schools during the World Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebration.

The students, who were part of a two-day training workshop on using reusable pads, called for the provision of changing rooms in schools and the removal of taxes on sanitary pads.

The lack of changing rooms in senior high and junior high schools is a persistent issue that forces students to navigate uncomfortable and unsanitary conditions when they need to change during heavy menstrual bleeding.

Many students are compelled to seek out dormitory captains or find other makeshift solutions, disrupting their education and daily activities.

Also read; $250M To Support Ghana’s Financial Sector-World Bank

The statistics are alarming, with nine out of ten Ghanaian girls missing school during their menstruation.

In northern Ghana, up to 45% of girls resort to using rags to manage menstrual blood due to the high cost of disposable sanitary pads.

This practice not only affects their health and hygiene but also contributes to a significant number of school absences among girls.

The call for changing rooms and tax-free sanitary pads was made during a float following the training workshop, which was organized by ActionAid Ghana in Bolgatanga, Upper East.

The workshop aimed to educate and empower girls on sustainable menstrual hygiene practices.

Programme Coordinator for ActionAid Ghana, Yakubu Akuka, supported the students’ demands, emphasizing the importance of creating a conducive learning environment for girls.

“Thousands of girls from poor communities miss school during their menstruation due to a lack of access to affordable sanitary pads,” he said.

“It is essential that we address this issue and provide girls with the necessary facilities and resources to manage their menstrual health without fear or stigma,” he added.

The demands by the senior high school students remind us of the urgent need for improved menstrual hygiene facilities and affordability in schools.

It is essential that policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers take notice of these concerns and work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for girls.

As we continue to celebrate World Menstrual Hygiene Day, we must remember that menstrual health is not just a personal issue but also a social and economic one.

Kindly share our story on;  Changing rooms And Tax-Free Sanitary Pads- U/E SHS student

For more stories; click Here.