Pagba Saha Foundation and Masloc Celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day
Pagba Saha Foundation, in collaboration with the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (Masloc), recently organized a Menstrual Hygiene Talk & Debate Competition at Yendi Senior High School (YESS) among ten basic schools in the district. The event aimed to mark Menstrual Hygiene Day and raise awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene.
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Pagba Saha Foundation: Empowering Communities for Sustainable Development
Pagba Saha Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to enhancing the socio-economic health, education, and general well-being of children, youth, women, and vulnerable individuals in society. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3 of Ghana, their mission focuses on uplifting communities across the Northern Regions through educational programs and content creation.
With a rising number of teenage pregnancies in the country, there is an urgent need for educational programs targeting adolescent girls. According to data from the Ghana Health Service in 2020, 13,444 pregnancies were recorded among girls aged 10-14, and 542,131 pregnancies among girls aged 15-19. The Northern Region alone accounted for 42,533 teenage pregnancies, ranking 6th in the country. This year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebration aimed to address this issue.
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Creating Awareness and Breaking Taboos
The Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebration aimed to challenge harmful taboos surrounding menstruation and raise awareness about existing gaps in menstrual hygiene. By promoting open discussions and education, the event sought to empower young girls and eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation
During the event, the CEO of Pagba Saha Foundation took the opportunity to appeal to His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, the President of the Republic, as well as the Ghanaian Parliament to address the luxury tax on sanitary pads. Additionally, they appealed to the Government, Ghana Education Service, and Ministry of Health to ensure schools provide adequate facilities for girls to change their sanitary pads.
Before the event, the CEO of Pagba Saha Foundation, Hajia Tim-Tooni Naa Sawuratu Alhassan, led the team in paying a courtesy visit to Ndan Yaa Naa Abukari II, the Overlord of Dagbon. They sought his blessings and paid homage to the community leader.
During the celebration, the Girl Child Officer for Yendi Municipality and a representative of CAMFED educated young girls about menstrual flow management and the prevention of associated infections. The Special Guest of Honour, Hajia Abibata Shani Mahama Zakaria, encouraged girls to remain focused on their education and menstrual hygiene. She emphasized the importance of taking their studies seriously.
Representatives from the Municipal Assembly, led by the Presiding Member, pledged support in various ways to ensure the well-being and safety of young females in relation to menstrual hygiene.
By organizing this event and fostering collaboration between various stakeholders, Pagba Saha Foundation and Masloc have taken an important step towards promoting menstrual hygiene education and empowering girls in the Yendi district.
