Plan International Ghana has used this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration in Walewale to push for stronger government action and sustainable policy reforms in menstrual health management, particularly for girls in underserved communities.
Under the theme “Together for a Period Friendly Ghana,” the event went beyond pad distribution, serving as a platform for high-level advocacy to improve school sanitation, menstrual education, and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) infrastructure across the country.
Mr. Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, emphasized that menstrual health is a human rights issue, not just a hygiene concern. “Today, we take a stand for every girl who has missed school, every woman who has suffered in silence,” he said, calling for long-term investments in menstrual education and WASH facilities, especially in schools.
Tchona spotlighted the organisation’s ongoing work, including the distribution of reusable pads to over 150,000 girls, construction of more than 100 girl-friendly latrines, and support for visually impaired girls to campaign for better facilities.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of 1,000 reusable sanitary pads to girls in Walewale, a gesture aimed at tackling period poverty and reducing school absenteeism. However, Tchona stressed that one-off donations were not enough. “We need to scale up local pad production, improve distribution systems, and ensure sustainable government support,” he added.
In that vein, he welcomed the government’s GH¢292.4 million allocation in the 2025 budget for free sanitary pads, but urged swift and efficient implementation, especially in rural and underserved communities.
The event gathered key players from the Ghana Health and Education Services, WASH sector, and local development partners. North East Regional Minister, Mr. Ibrahim Tia, described the gathering as “a vital platform for collective action” and applauded Plan International Ghana for its “exemplary” contributions, especially through its IPADEV (Integrated Package for Sustainable Development) project.
Meanwhile, school authorities used the platform to spotlight urgent infrastructural needs. Reverend Ibrahim Sebiyam, Headmaster of Walewale Senior High/Technical School, appealed for female-friendly toilet facilities, changing rooms, and a reliable water supply, noting that water scarcity disrupts learning and compromises girls’ hygiene and dignity.
Observed annually on May 28, Menstrual Hygiene Day aims to dismantle taboos, promote best practices, and ensure that every girl and woman can manage her period safely, confidently, and with dignity. This year’s celebration in Walewale served as a call to move from donations to systemic change.
