AABryt Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to promoting Reproductive and Menstrual Health, and Gender Equality, has lauded government’s ground-breaking initiative to provide free sanitary pads to teenage girls across the nation especially the underserved and underprivileged ones.
This initiative, according to the Foundation, marks a significant step forward in addressing period poverty, improving menstrual hygiene, and empowering the teenage girls to lead healthier, more dignified lives.
A statement issued by the Founder of AABryt Foundation, Diana Akosua Adutwumwaa Britwum noted that the government’s programme, “Free Sanitary Pads”, aligns with Foundation’s long-standing mission to break the stigma around menstruation and ensure access to affordable, high-quality menstrual products for all teenage menstruating girls.
“We commend the government for its commitment to menstrual health and its focus on reaching underserved communities, including students, low-income households, and rural populations.
“We are thrilled to see the government take this bold step toward addressing period poverty and promoting menstrual health. Access to sanitary products is a basic human right, and this initiative will have a transformative impact on the lives of millions of teenage menstruating girls,” the statement added.
It however noted that the success of this program will depend on effective implementation, sustained funding, and continued efforts to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation.
“AABryt Foundation stands ready to support the government in achieving these goals,” the statement assured.
In furtherance of this objective, the AABryt Foundation gave some key recommendations for the initiative:
1. Community Engagement: Ensure that local communities, especially the teenage
girls, are actively involved in the planning and implementation of the program to address their specific needs.
2. Education and Awareness: Expand efforts to educate communities about menstrual health and hygiene, challenging taboos and fostering open conversations.
3. Sustainability: Prioritize the use of eco-friendly and reusable menstrual products to reduce environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability. Also, encourage local manufacturers and importers by cutting import taxes to reduce the cost of sanitary pads.
4. Monitoring and Transparency: Establish clear mechanisms for monitoring the distribution of sanitary products and measuring the program’s impact on school attendance, health outcomes, and gender equality.
5. Partnerships: Leverage the expertise and networks of local NGOs and community based organizations whose mission and vision are align with this initiative while reaching out to the private sector to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the initiative.
AABryt Foundation’s commitment to supporting the initiative.
AABryt Foundation has in the past (3) three years been at the forefront of menstrual health advocacy, working to provide free menstrual products, education, and support to Greater Accra, Ashanti, Oti, Eastern, Central and the Volta regions respectively having donated over 15,000 sanitary pads to 3000+ teenage girls.
“In line with the government’s initiative, we pledge to:
• Collaborate with authorities in charge to ensure the successful distribution of sanitary products in hard-to-reach areas.
• Conduct workshops and awareness campaigns to complement the government’s efforts in breaking menstrual myths and taboos.
• Advocate for policies that sustain and expand access to menstrual health resources.
Call to Action
The AABryt Foundation has called on all stakeholders, civil society organizations, private sector partners, and individuals, to join hands with the government in making this initiative a success. “Together, we can create a future where no teenage girl is held back by her period,” the AABryt Foundation urged.
