News
AABRYT Foundation promotes menstrual health among WBM Zion SHS students
The AABRYT Foundation has intensified efforts to promote menstrual health awareness among adolescents with a sensitisation and mentorship programme for students of WBM Zion Senior High School (SHS).
The initiative, held under the theme “From Cycle to Career: Empowering Girls for Healthy Living and Future Success,” sought to educate students on menstrual hygiene, break stigma surrounding menstruation and empower girls to manage their menstrual health with confidence and dignity.
Speaking at the programme, the Founder and Executive Director of the AABRYT Foundation, Ms Diana Akosua Adutwumwaa Britwum, said menstrual health remained a critical issue affecting the well-being, confidence and academic performance of many girls.
She noted that inadequate knowledge, limited access to sanitary products and persistent misconceptions about menstruation often prevented girls from fully participating in school activities.
“Menstrual health is not just a girls’ issue; it is a societal issue that requires collective understanding and support,” she said.
According to her, the Foundation was committed to ensuring that young girls, particularly those in underserved communities, received the education and support needed to manage their menstrual health safely and confidently.
Ms Britwum stressed the importance of involving boys in conversations about menstruation to help eliminate stigma and foster respect and empathy among students.
“When one part of society lacks understanding, the entire society suffers from silence, stigma and misinformation,” she stated.
She explained that creating supportive environments for girls was essential to promoting their physical, emotional and academic development.
Ms Britwum disclosed that the Foundation had distributed more than 20,000 sanitary pads to over 5,000 girls across the Eastern, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Central, Oti and Volta regions as part of its menstrual health intervention programmes.
The headmistress of WBM Zion SHS, Mrs Abena Owarewaa Debrah, commended the foundation for the initiative, describing it as timely and beneficial to the students.
She said the menstrual health education sessions would equip girls with practical knowledge on proper hygiene practices and help them develop confidence during their menstrual cycles.
Mrs Debrah noted that many girls still faced challenges discussing menstrual issues openly due to cultural misconceptions and social stigma, making such educational programmes necessary.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would encourage students to adopt healthy menstrual practices and support one another.
The workshop formed part of the Foundation’s “Glow, Grow and Bold Futures” initiative and brought together health professionals, mentors and security personnel to educate students on menstrual health, personal development and future opportunities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
