Abigail Adjei (in Cap) and Grace Bema Twumasi speaking on Spirit FM, Kumasi
Smart Women Alliance commences Menstrual Health Education ahead of Menstrual Hygiene Day
Smart Women Alliance; a Ghanaian non-profit organization, has been educating Ghanaians on menstruation and related issues ahead of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The Menstrual Hygiene Day commemoration is slated for 28th May, 2024.
Ahead of the commemoration, the Smart Women Alliance, led by Madam Abigail Adjei have been utilizing radio platforms to educate the masses on menstrual issues.
Menstruation Stigma
Speaking on Kumasi-based Spirit FM, Madam Abigail Adjei decried the stigma associated with menstruation in the country. She explained that menstruation is important in the life of every woman and family. She pointed to it as an indicator of a female’s capacity to have babies and should therefore be important to men as well. “It is sad however to observe how people behave towards menstruating women” she said and appealed to all to help make life comfortable for menstruating women.
Menstrual Hygiene
She stressed that the moisture associated with menstruation creates optimum conditions for microbes hence the need to observe strict hygiene including frequent baths, changing of pads and hand washing. She cautioned that failure to take personal hygiene seriously during menstruation could lead to infections and bad body odour.
Madam Adjei, who is also a practicing Midwife advised women to make it a point to visit their Gynecologist at least twice yearly to ensure menstrual and vaginal health.
Menstrual Products
Madam Grace Bema Twumasi, also Member of Smart Women Alliance who also spoke emphasized the importance of menstrual health education especially from parent to their young.
She also appealed to all including the government, corporate Ghana, religious groupings, parents and others to help make menstrual products available and affordable to ladies. Some ladies are forced to use unsuitable products due to the cost associated with quality Sanitary menstrual products. She called on organizations to organize Menstrual Health Education for their members and also put in resources to make sanitary products available to their female members. “You can invite us at Smart Women Alliance and we will come and educate your people or even family for you” she offered.
Call to action
Madam Abigail Adjei called on organizations, groups, philanthropists to support the quest of Smart Women Alliance by donating sanitary products for onward distribution to various schools, orphanages, and other vulnerable groups.
About Menstrual Hygiene Day
28 May every year is marked across the world as World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The theme for this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day is “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.”
The day is an opportunity to highlight issues surrounding menstruation such as menstrual care, hygiene, stigma and difficulty accessing menstrual products.
Access to menstrual products, safe, hygienic spaces in which to use them, and the right to manage menstruation without shame or stigma, is essential for anyone who menstruates. But for too many, that’s not the reality.
Smart Women Alliance will be visiting a number of basic schools on the 28th to educate them on Menstrual health to commemorate the day.
About Smart Women Alliance (SWA)
Smart Women Alliance (SWA) is a Ghana-based non-profit organization that champions the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals with a special focus on the wellbeing of Women, Children and the Aged.
Contact Persons
Ms. Abigail Adjei (Executive Director) 0242078713
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