Madam Mollydean Zong Buntuya, the Talensi District Girls Education Officer, has called on the government to freely supply girls in basic and senior high schools (SHS) with sanitary pads to help reduce absenteeism and retain them in school.
The pads, she said, were an essential need for girls, especially those in basic schools.
She revealed that a project, “Girls Participatory Approaches to Student’s Success (G-PASS)”, recently distributed uniforms, books and sandals to students, however, the students later revealed that the most important item for them were the sanitary pads.
Making the appeal through the Ghana News Agency at Tongo, she said although it was less expensive than a school uniform, the girls saw it as more important than the uniform.
UKAID sometime ago was providing sanitary pads to girls in the district and it significantly assisted to retain the beneficiaries in school.
“When we checked the attendance, before and after, we saw that the impact made in terms of attendance. If girls are regular in school, they have the potential to perform better,” she said.
She expressed worry about the situation where some adolescent girls in the area lacked access to sanitary pads and were forced to stay away from school during their menstrual period.
“If the menses start on a Monday, it means that the whole week, that student would be absent from school.”
In the event, she accidentally soiled herself, the male colleagues would tease – make fun of her, such that it would take weeks for the girl to overcome the embarrassment before returning to school.
Madam Buntuya said the situation presented an impediment to girls' academic performance.
She also complained about the increasing rate at which young people in the area were abandoning the classroom for mining.
Madam Buntuya admonished parents to provide adequate protection for their children, especially the girl-child, and guide them to become responsible future leaders.
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