A sensitisation workshop on “Menstruation and Menstrual Hygiene and its impact on Girl-Child Empowerment” was organised on Monday, October 11, 2021, for students of St. Mary’s Junior High School (JHS) at the school premises to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.
The event was organised by the Women’s Ministry of James McKeown Worship Centre (JMWC) in the Dansoman Area of The Church of Pentecost., together with the District’s Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS) and Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM) committees. Over 700 students (from Primary 4 to JHS 3) took part in the event.
Addressing the students, Dr. Naa Akushia Sepenu, an Otorhinolaryngologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and wife of the JMWC Resident Minister, said one of the key natural occurrences in every girl’s life, which poses a cyclical challenge to them (especially those in Ghana), is menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
She said that the lack of menstrual knowledge, poor access to sanitary products, and non-facilitating school environments, make it difficult for girls to attend school during the few days they are menstruating. As a result, most of these girls often absent themselves from school during the menstrual periods.
Dr. Sepenu said the event was, therefore, organised to empower the girl-student population of the school with the requisite knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene, in line with the Church’s Vision 2023 Document of “Possessing the Nations.”
A team of health personnel from JMWC led by Elder Dr Stephen Kpatsi took participants through the proper use of sanitary pads. They advised the girls to wash their hands with soap and running water before putting on their sanitary pads and ensure their appropriate use to prevent leakages.
The Headmistress of the School, Mrs Patience Addy, commended the church for the kind gesture and indicated that the knowledge acquired from the workshop would go a long way to boost the confidence of the students to participate in school activities during the menstrual period. She also added that it would help reduce student absenteeism amongst female students during such periods.
Present at the sensitisation workshop were Overseer Dr. Perez Sepenu (Resident Minister, JMWC), Deaconess (Mrs) Evelyn Basingnaa (District Women’s Ministry Leader), Elder Cephas Agbozo (District Secretary), some District Executive Committee members and church members.
As part of the event, the church donated over 700 sanitary pads to female participants in Primary 4 to JHS 3, whilst the other students (from Primary 1 to 3) were refreshed with snacks.
International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day (October 11, 2012) declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls. The occasion marks the importance of adolescent girl children and attempts at empowering them and identifying their potential by providing opportunities for them.
Report by JMWC Media.