NADeF distributes sanitary items to over 700 school children

 To ensure the retention of more adolescent girls in school, the Newmont Ahafo Development Founda­tion (NADeF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Newmont Ahafo Mines, has presented assorted sanitary pads and hygiene bags to some basic school pupils in its 10 host communities in the Ahafo Region.

The donation by NADeF forms part of activities to mark this year’s global men­strual hygiene day which is celebrated on May 28, every year.

A total of 744 adolescents girls drawn from 47 basic schools in the host communi­ties received three sanitary pads each and a bar of choco­late to mark the day.

The host communities were Ntotroso, Gyedu, Waman­hinso, Terchire and Kenyasi, Yamfo, Afrispakrom, Adrobaa and Susuanso.

Some of the beneficiary schools were Kwakyekrom DA basic, Rashadia Islamic basic, Ntotroso Methodist basic and St Lawrence RC School all at Ntotroso in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.

The Executive Secretary of NADeF, Elizabeth Opoku-Dar­ko, who spoke with The Spec­tator after the presentation said the donation forms part of the corporate social re­sponsibility of NADeF towards its host communities.

Mrs Opoku-Darko stated that 500 packs of sanitary pads at the cost of GH¢215,000 were procured with support from the World Gold Council.

She explained that menstru­ation was a critical period in adolescents’ girls which often leads to irregular school at­tendance as well as affecting academic performance,

The Women and Allies vice Chair of NADeF, Marian Naa Dede Appiah also educated the girls on how to use the sanitary pads and the need to maintain good personal hygiene.

She urged them to bath reg­ularly with clean water and detergent so as to deal with anybody ordour.

 From Daniel Dzirasah, Ntotroso