Inspire Today Joins Forces With Others to Support Over 4,000 Students on Menstrual Hygiene
In a significant move to promote menstrual hygiene, the NGO Inspire Today has partnered with three companies to support more than 4,000 menstruating girls in the Mallam cluster of schools. This initiative, conducted in coordination with Wilmar Africa, Familk Ghana Limited, and the publisher Step Publishers, took place within the Greater Accra Region’s Weija Gbawe Municipal education directorate.
Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated annually on May 28, aims to underscore the importance of proper menstrual hygiene management. It was first initiated by the German NGO WASH United in 2014, and has since become a platform for advocating the needs of women and girls who lack access to sanitary products.
Wilmar Africa, known for their Jamaa soap and detergent products, along with Familk Ghana Limited, producers of the popular Fanice ice cream, contributed various products to aid the initiative. Step Publishers, a Christian publishing house, donated books to encourage the students to read widely and enhance their educational experience.
Etornam Sey, the Founder and Executive Director of Inspire Today, emphasized the critical need for these efforts. “Every girl, no matter where she lives or her economic status, deserves to manage her menstruation with dignity,” Sey stated. She highlighted the limitations faced by girls in low-income countries, such as the high costs and limited availability of menstrual hygiene products, which are often exacerbated by social norms.
Sey also called on the government to reconsider the taxation on sanitary pads, which could make these essential products more affordable and accessible. She pointed out that reducing taxes is crucial for reaching more girls who desperately need these supplies to continue their education.
The theme for this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day, ‘Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,’ reflects a global aspiration to eliminate the stigma and taboos associated with menstruation. The aim is to create a world where everyone can access the necessary products and education about menstrual hygiene and benefit from period-friendly infrastructure.
