A presentation on Menstrual Management in Schools was delivered by the District Girls Education Officer, Madam Ivy Constance Eghan at the High Level Meeting on WinS. She laid out the vision for Menstrual Hygiene Management as ensuring access to menstrual hygiene materials and information for girls in school and to dispel myths around menstruation among school children.
She re-iterated the obligation of all schools to make sanitary pads available at all time and mentioned Moseaso Dwomoh Methodist JHS as good example of a school which always keep sanitary pads for use by the girls when they need it. She however identified financing as one of the challenges which make it difficult for schools to comply. She expressed concern about the lack of menstrual management facilities such as changing rooms in schools within the district siting only four schools namely: Anyinam Islamic School, Akyem Mampong Presby School, Ankaase Presby JHS, and Ankaase Presby Primary Schools as the only schools in the district which have changing rooms for girls.
The mentioned the following as key aspects of menstrual hygiene management:
- Education on menstrual hygiene management
- Menarche (age of first menstruation). Girls of late start menstruation early.
- Management of menstrual pains
- Disposal of used menstrual pads/materials
- How to dispel the myths around menstruation. Examples of some of the myths mentioned were:
- Don’t cook when you are menstruating;
- Don’t go to the kitchen when you are menstruating; and
- Don’t go to church or participate in religious rituals when menstruating.
