Editorial
Support girls to accept menstruation with dignity
Last Tuesday was World Menstrual Hygiene Day, a Day to raise awareness of menstruation, eliminate the stigma attached to it, and take action toward a shared objective.
Organisations and groups celebrated the Day, which is observed on May 28 every year, by congregating at different locations across the nation.
The subject of this year’s celebration was “Together for a period friendly world.”
The programmes have been informative, opened girls’ eyes, and expanded their understanding of menstrual hygiene because of the attention, making the Day’s celebration relevant and educational.
During the national commemoration at the Odorgonno Senior High School in Accra, First Lady Samira Bawumia gave 5,000 packages of sanitary pads to be given to girls attending schools under the Ga Central Municipal Assembly.
She emphasised the necessity for group action in order to promote menstrual health and guarantee that inexpensive, sustainable menstruation products are available to all,
According to reports, millions of schoolgirls lack access to menstruation products, proper facilities for menstrual health, and accurate knowledge about menstruation, thus her request is appropriate.
Despite the fact that menstruation is a natural part of life, most girls experience shame during their periods because of the stigma associated with it. This limits their mobility to the point that some miss days of school.
Increasing knowledge is important because it helps young girls, in particular, accept and appreciate their menstruation as a natural part of growing up.
In addition to government initiatives, organisations, individuals, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) must provide sanitary pads to schools.
To make menstruation pads affordable, the government must remove the tax component entirely. Teenage girls should always have access to their parents so they can learn about menstruation and self-care throughout their periods.
Girls need our combined efforts to be encouraged to accept their menstruation with dignity
Editorial
Ensure provision of adequate first aid at schools
Dear Editor,
First aid is defined as the immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill person, aiming to preserve life, prevent further harm, and promote recovery until professional medical help arrives.
It is also considered as an essential element at every organisation and institution during emergency situations. In Ghana, first aid is also considered a legal requirement, emphasising the need for adequate supplies and trained personnel to handle emergencies.
Additionally, schools in Ghana are expected to have first aid boxes and individuals trained in first aid to address injuries and illness that may occur.
However, there have been a number of reported cases of lack of first aid kits, including first aid boxes, in some educational institutions in the country.
As a concerned citizen, I find such reports very disturbing because the lack of first aid kits at our education institutions could lead to loss of lives.
At schools, especially at the basic level, it is easy for injuries to be recorded due to the playful nature of pupils, where they are often seen running up and down and engaging in some physical activities.
It is for this reason that education institutions in the country need to take the provision of first aid kits and facilities seriously.
The various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, need to put in measures to ensure that education institutions adhere to this directive.
Fred, Dansoman
Editorial
Introduce comprehensive sex education in schools
Dear Editor
I write to express concern about the alarming rise in cases of teenage pregnancy in our communities and to advocate an urgent introduction of comprehensive sex education in our schools.
It is no longer enough to ask our children to abstain from sex without equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
In a world where information is readily available often unfiltered and misleading, young people must be guided with factual, age-appropriate, and culturally sensitive education on reproductive health.
Many teenagers become victims of early pregnancy not out of rebellion, but due to ignorance. They are unaware of how their bodies work, how to protect themselves, or even the consequences of unprotected sex.
This lack of knowledge often leads to school dropouts, unsafe abortions, and a cycle of poverty especially among girls.
Comprehensive sex education does not encourage promiscuity, as some fear, rather, it empowers children to make responsible choices.
It helps them understand consent, personal boundaries, and the importance of self-respect.
Parents, teachers, religious leaders, and policymakers must all come together to ensure that our youth are protected not only through moral instruction but with practical knowledge that safeguards their futures.
If we are serious about ending teenage pregnancy, then let us be bold enough to teach our children the truth early and consistently.
Emmanuel Mensah, Cape Coast
