Empowering Women: Obaasima Donates 2,000 Sanitary Pads in Western Region on Menstrual Hygiene Day
The Obaasima Social Entrepreneurial Program (Obaasimasep) has distributed over two – thousand (2,000) sanitary pads to girls and teachers in rural schools across Ghana’s Western Region, marking Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025.
The Obaasima Social Entrepreneurial Program seeks to drive social change through initiatives in health, education, and women’s empowerment, ensuring vulnerable groups have the tools to succeed.
The initiative, dubbed “Pad Up A Girl: Accelerate Action for a Scholar,” aimed to combat period poverty while promoting dignity, education, and digital safety.
The campaign on Friday, May 30, 2025, reached schools in Abekoase/Tebe, Huniso, and Pepesa, in the Prestea Huni–Valley Municipality, providing essential menstrual products alongside education on hygiene and online safety.
Project Manager at Obaasima, Afia Yeboah, emphasized the need for girls to balance digital awareness with learning opportunities.
“In today’s digital age, it is crucial for girls to prioritize their safety while navigating the online space. At the same time, the internet offers vast opportunities for education,” she said.
Mr. Richard Botchway, Officer in Charge of Sponsorship and Media, addressed the risks of transactional sex, urging girls to uphold their self-worth. “Do not give yourselves out to men just because you need financial assistance to purchase pads,” he advised, encouraging them to seek help from teachers and school health coordinators instead.
Abekoase/Tebe M/A Basic School (288 pads), Huniso M/A Basic School (552 pads), Pepesa M/A Basic School (1,020 pads), and John Taylor M/A Basic School (504 pads) benefitted from the donation. An additional 60 pads were given to vulnerable women in the community, while 50 pads were donated to female students at KNUST.
However, the campaign revealed challenges, including a lack of underwear among some girls. Christian Seruph, Secretary to the Parents Association, noted, “Some of them wear sportswear because they do not have proper panties, making it difficult to use the pads appropriately.”
Beyond primary schools, Obaasimasep extended support to tertiary students. Jessica Arthur of KNUST’s LAMDSA Women’s Commission expressed gratitude, saying the donation would help young women “maintain dignity on campus, especially with the rising cost of basic necessities.”
Educators praised the initiative for improving school attendance and confidence among girls.
Mr. Usman Suleman, SHEP Coordinator at Abekoase/Tebe, thanked Obaasimasep for its impactful intervention.
Project Coordinator – Health, Georgia Akua Ashun, emphasized the program’s broader mission, “This is more than charity. It’s about restoring dignity, encouraging resilience, and showing every girl she belongs in school no matter the time of the month.”
Obaasimasep’s efforts are in alignment with its commitment to community-led solutions in health, education, and economic empowerment. The “Pad Up A Girl” campaign underscores the organization’s dedication to ensuring girls thrive with dignity and purpose.
Obaasima’s initiative paves the way for sustainable solutions to period poverty in rural Ghana.
