President John Dramani Mahama has launched the National Sanitary Pad Distribution Program aimed at providing female students in basic and senior high schools with free sanitary pads.
The event, which came off at Salvation Army Cluster of Schools at Mamprobi in Accra on Thursday, was in fulfillment of a campaign pledge made by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the campaign season last year.
In March, the Mahama administration appropriated GHC292.4 million to ralising the social intervention project.
Speaking at the event, President Mahama observed that the program will offer “hope” to the disadvantaged who might stay home during the period.
He said menstrual flow should not be a barrier to girl-child education in Ghana.
“It should not be a barrier to education or self-achievement. And that is why this program exists to remove one of the silent yet powerful obstacles standing in the way of our girl-child dreams. We are acting today to restore hope,” the president said.
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who also spoke at the event, credited the Mahama administration for prioritizing the “mental and hygienic” health of women.
He continued: “Today’s milestone in my words is to say a terminal end to the unbearable emotional trauma and indignity that young girls go through responding to nature.”
The event brought together several officials from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Ministry of Finance.
Story by: Mitchell Asare Amoamah