The Bethel Assembly Women’s Ministry, in collaboration with the New Combine District Women’s Ministry in the Agormanya Area of The Church of Pentecost, has organised a day’s health seminar for all Junior High School (JHS) and Primary Six girls at Korkono Basic School.
The event was facilitated by health personnel from the Akosombo District Health Service and officials from the National Health Insurance Authority in Asuogyaman District.
Leading the exercise was the wife of the district minister, Mrs Esther Kesse, who is a professional Counsellor, supported by the leadership of the local and the district Women’s Ministry. Deaconess Dorothy Nkansah, who is a health personnel, took the girls through the topic, ‘Appropriate Ways of Managing Yourself During Menstruation Period.’
Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, the school authorities and all the teachers highly involved themselves in the whole seminar.
Specific areas the girls were taken through include how to dress well when they are in their menses, appropriate steps to follow when they feel pains during their menstrual periods, how to clean themselves during their menstrual period and the types of detergents to wash themselves during their menstrual period.
The girls appealed to the team treat the topic during PTA Meetings because some parents force their girl child to use strong and powerful detergents to clean themselves during their menses, which ends up affecting their health.
The team accepted this request and decided to collaborate with the school authorities to organise health education for all parents whose wards are in the school.
The Women’s Ministry used the occasion to present free sanitary pads to all the girls who participated in the seminar.
Members of the ministry took time to educate the girls the best ways to use sanitary pads for safety and expected results. It was very interactive talk as the girls asked questions bordering their minds.
The headmaster of the school appreciated The Church of Pentecost for the novelty. Thanking the leadership of the church for the gesture, he revealed that teenage pregnancy has been a major problem the school is currently facing. He bemoaned that more than half of the girls in the school become pregnant before they reach final year.
During an altar call, 12 girls gave their lives to Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour.
Report by Esther Kesse.
