Editorial
Let’s supply sanitary pads to keep girls in school
It is crucial to practise proper menstrual hygiene since it makes girls feel at ease at school and helps to prevent infection and odour.
Unfortunately, because of poverty, many girls, especially those in rural communities, cannot afford to use sanitary pads, and as a result, they skip school during their periods, which eventually has an impact on their performance.
According to a report, some females even use unwanted materials at this time, endangering their health.
There is still more that can be done to support many girls, despite numerous interventions by civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), philanthropists, churches, and other advocacy groups in the form of free sanitary pads donated to schools.
Recently, there have been requests for the government to reduce sanitary pad tariffs, but some have contended that doing so will affect the operations of local sanitary pad producers.
Local firms should be encouraged to acquire the prerequisites to make sanitary pads locally rather than relying on imports. This will increase local businesses’ output, produce jobs for young people, and bring in money for the government.
The Spectator applauds individuals who have been providing sanitary pads to schools and educating young girls about menstrual hygiene, especially in the weeks leading up to Menstrual Hygiene Day observed on May 28 each year to ensure that girls are fully equipped to manage their menstruation.
The Spectator is making a plea to other organisations to prioritise providing sanitary pads to schools in order to help young girls, particularly those living in rural communities, continue their education and fully engage in other social activities.
We also implore local manufacturers and importers of sanitary products to make it a mission to regularly contribute a portion of their goods to schools for use by girls as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES).
We hope that the donation would be made frequently not just once, to help girls in both urban and rural locations.
To assist the girls change regularly when menstruating, it is also vital to provide clean washrooms and prioritise the supply of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities (WASH) in schools.
The Spectator hopes that these initiatives would encourage girls to stay in school, concentrate on their education, and improve their performance in order to prepare for a better future, thereby closing the gender gap that gender experts have been urging for.
Editorial
Promote welfare of African children
The African Union hosts the annual International Day of the African Child on June 16 to increase awareness of the rights and ongoing struggles of African children.
Additionally, the day offers a forum for talking about and addressing topics including healthcare, education, and safety from exploitation and abuse.
It began in 1976 when students in Soweto, South Africa, were killed for demonstrating against inequality and injustice in education.
Since children have rights that must be upheld, the African Day celebration is appropriate because it serves as a poignant reminder to our communities to put children’s needs first, ensuring that they develop and realise their full potential.
Most importantly, it pushes people, governments, and communities to address pressing issues like child labour, inadequate education, and to ensure safe, healthy environments.
This year’s theme, “Planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010,” is no exception to the efforts done thus far by governments, individuals, parents, and others to advance the welfare of children.
In addition to their rights to nutritious food, medical care, secure housing, and high-quality education, children also require emotional support, safety, and protection from danger in order to flourish.
Children’s physical, mental, and social development depends on these necessities, yet far too many continue to be denied their rights and go without food, housing, water, or health care.
While eating, sleeping, playing, and learning are all important aspects of a child’s growth, some children do not find these activities enjoyable. Such children work independently to make ends meet although their parents are responsible for that role,
Many people and organisations have put a lot of effort into making sure that children’s rights are outlined, upheld, and safeguarded; thus, everyone must keep fighting for children’s rights.
The Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC) was created in 1989 as a result of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which served as the foundation for all legal norms pertaining to children’s rights. This is the first international agreement with legal force that covers all human rights.
Therefore, a multifaceted strategy encompassing legal frameworks, education, community involvement, and tackling systemic challenges is needed to assure the preservation of children’s rights.
Laws that safeguard children from abuse must be put into place and upheld, public awareness of children’s rights and protection must be increased, and safe spaces must be established in institutions and communities.
Let us all work together to defend the rights of African children.
Editorial
Employ pros at local government level to address sanitation issues
Dear Editor,
In a car on my way to work on Tuesday, I listened to an interview on sanitation on a radio station which a local government expert said that most of the people that handled waste management issues at the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, were not waste management professionals but health professionals.
According to the speaker, this has contributed to the failure to address the sanitation problems, especially at the local level.
These health professionals who have been tasked to oversee waste management are only occupied with the health related dangers but have no clue on the issues at hand.
I felt very sad and found it disturbing as to why people without professional training in waste management is given responsibilities in a field alien to him.
Waste management involves a lot of processes, including segmentation of waste products as well as recycling.
Employers must know that waste management professionals at the local level was important as it helps making decisions ton how to combat it.
This is not a problem at the local government level alone. It is something across the various sectors.
Maybe this is the time for us as a country to start recruiting qualified professionals to occupy their respective fields to bring their competence to the table to solve whatever problem persist.
It is clearly a case of putting ‘square pegs in round holes.’ I believe it is about time we change that narrative and employ professionals who are qualified to find solutions to our waste management conundrum.
Baba Hafiz, Kasoa
