SCHOOLS MUST PROVIDE SANITARY PADS-COUNSELOR

A Clinical Pharmacist, Mrs. Alexandria Oppong Mensah has advocated that authorities of basic and second cycle schools in the country provide sanitary pads at vantage points, especially in school washrooms where adolescent girls can easily and conveniently access such health materials during their menses. 

Aside from this initiative, schools and parents must also demystify menstruation which is an unavoidable biological stage that every normal female must go through in life. 

Mrs. Mensah, who is also a Counselor, made the suggestion at the launch of a book titled ‘Abrefi’s Red Letter Day’ in Kumasi. 

The 17-page book was published by Adwinsa publications with contributions by four female students of the Publishing Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. 

They are Leticia Amankwah, Victoria Adobea Mensah, Florence Newman and Patience Obeng-Manu. The publication is based on a true life story on adolescent reproductive health. 

The Clinical Pharmacist noted that many girls are ignorant of matters relating to menstruation, due to the fact that many parents and even school teachers shy away from taken the girl child through the nitty-gritty of such an important issue of life. 

For this reason, girls who experience their first menstrual period become anxious, nervous, shy and in some cases become frightened. 

In other cases too, such girls soil themselves only to be alerted by friends or other persons but in most cases, the victims of such circumstances are unaware of where to seek help and feel embarrassed.

 Mrs. Mensah explained that the apprehension of the girls can be significantly addressed if they have fore knowledge of the biological changes, its importance as well as have an idea as to how they can easily access sanitary pads at a place very convenient to them. 

Mrs. Oppong therefore commended government for the bold decision to make available to senior high school girls sanitary pads for their use. 

The Chief Executive of Adwinsa Publications, Kwaku Oppong Mensah, said ‘Abrefi’s Red Letter Day’ is meant to serve as a manual and information piece for both parents and schools to educate the girl child adequately on matters of menstruation. 

The book, Mr. Amponsah disclosed, has already been translated into Akuapem and Asante Twi in addition to French and the original English version for easy reading and understanding by children.