Free Sanitary Pads programme is to empower teenage girls to lead healthier, more dignified lives
Renowned media personality and advocate for women’s health, Diana Akosua Adutwumwaa Britwum, has commended the Government of Ghana’s initiative to provide free sanitary pads to teenage girls across the nation.
She described the move as a significant milestone in the fight against period poverty and a crucial step toward ensuring menstrual health equity.
The newly launched “Free Sanitary Pads” programme is a groundbreaking effort aimed at addressing period poverty, improving menstrual hygiene, and empowering teenage girls to lead healthier, more dignified lives.
According to Akosua, the initiative aligns closely with her vision as the founder of the AABryt Foundation, whose long-standing mission is to break the stigma surrounding menstruation and ensure access to high-quality, affordable menstrual products for all teenage girls.
She emphasized the need for collaboration and sustainability in implementing the initiative.
Akosua commended the government for its commitment to menstrual health, recognizing its focus on reaching underserved populations, including students, low-income households, and rural communities.
“We are thrilled to see the government take this bold step toward addressing period poverty and promoting menstrual health.
“Access to sanitary products is a basic human right, and this initiative will have a transformative impact on the lives of millions of menstruating teenage girls.
“However, the success of this program will depend on effective implementation, sustained funding, and continued efforts to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation.
“AABryt Foundation stands ready to support the government in achieving these goals.”
To ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the “Free Sanitary Pads” programme, Akosua, through her AABryt Foundation, has outlined five key recommendations:
Community Engagement: Actively involve teenage girls and local communities in the planning and implementation stages to address their specific needs.
Education and Awareness: Expand efforts to educate communities on menstrual health and hygiene while challenging taboos and fostering open conversations.
Sustainability: Prioritize eco-friendly and reusable menstrual products to reduce environmental impact. Encourage local manufacturers and importers by reducing import taxes to lower the cost of sanitary pads.
Monitoring and Transparency: Establish clear mechanisms to track the distribution of sanitary products and measure the program’s impact on school attendance, health outcomes, and gender equality.
Partnerships: Collaborate with local NGOs, community-based organizations, and private sector stakeholders to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the initiative.
Akosua, together with her foundation, has been at the forefront of menstrual health advocacy, working across the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Oti, Eastern, Central, and Volta regions.
Through its initiatives, the organization has donated over 15,000 sanitary pads to more than 3,000 teenage girls.
In his State of the Nation Address delivered in Parliament, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the government’s initiative to provide free sanitary pads to female students from Primary 5 through to Senior High School.
He stated that the programme aims to reduce absenteeism caused by period-related challenges.
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