Total Woman’s Network calls for free supply of sanitary products for girls

A non-governmental organization (NGO) called Total Woman’s Network (TWN), as part of marking the World Menstrual Hygiene Day, has called on producers of sanitary products to help make them affordable to girls of school going ages.

There have been reports of challenges associated with menstrual period and its management among teenagers over the years, resulting in among other things, their absence from school. One of such challenges is the cost of sanitary towels.

But the founder of the organization, Madam Edna Quartey, noted that her outfit is collaborating with other bodies with similar interests to help make the products available to the young ones.

She said: “We are trying to collaborate with sanitary pad producing companies so that quarterly, they can support us to provide for those who can’t afford them. We are talking to people, we are having conversation in that space with people in authority to help us to do it.”

“One person can’t do it all. So we will encourage these companies [period product manufacturers] that when we come knocking on their doors, they should please open up and help us to support these young ones,” Madam Edna added.

She spoke to Angel News during the organization’s menstrual hygiene educational outreach program for students of three Junior High Schools—Dimona, Knowledge Hill and Standard Foundation School—all of which are located at Santa Maria in the Anyaa-Sowutuom Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.

The program however centered on breaking silence, raising awareness and changing negative social norms around menstrual hygiene. The students were in the course enlightened on what menstrual period and cycle are, what challenges are faced during menstruation and how to manage themselves during the period to maintain a good health.

TWN whose goal is to enhance womanhood through education, empowerment and inspiration, made donations to the girls to help boost their confidence. Some items gifted include sanitary pads, hand sanitizers and beads serving as a device to help them calculate their periods.

The project was in collaboration with the Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom Constituency, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, who was represented at the program by the assembly member for Santa Maria Electoral Area, Hon. Nana Kwesi Boakye Junior.

In his remarks, Hon. Nana Kwesi called on the government to make accessible the menstrual hygiene products by reducing or removing taxes on them.

“The government would have to look at probably the manufacturing industries, so that they can give them some tax exemptions. With that, at least the price of the sanitary pads can come as low as one or two cedis so that the students can acquire some by themselves,” he said.