The Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights facilitator (ASRHR) in the Effutu circuit in the Cape Coast Metropolis is attributing absenteeism amongst female students in schools to open washrooms that don’t encourage female students in their menstrual cycles to stay in school.

Ayisha Eduku said such open washrooms do not give privacy, while regular supply of water which is required by female students in their menses to wash down and change their sanitary pads is also a challenge.

She said most female students decide to be absent from school whenever they are in their menses.

She is also appealing to the government to explore the use of local materials to manufacture sanitary pads to reduce the high cost of sanitary pads which she said is contributing to absenteeism and menstrual hygiene amongst female students.

She made the call in an interview with Adom News at the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights inter-basic schools quiz competition held to mark the conclusion of a six-month programme aimed at training peer educators to promote Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Effutu sub-metro of Cape Coast metropolis.

The programme was executed by Micro-Aid Foundation Ghana with sponsorship from Plan Ghana, Women Voice of Leadership –Ghana Project through Global Affairs Canada.

Ayisha Eduku commended organisers of the programme as it will go a long way to equip students with knowledge about how to avoid or reduce teenage pregnancy in their circuit. She said there is high teenage pregnancy among pupils, including those in primary schools.

She is appealed to the government to remove taxes on sanitary products.

The participating schools included Brabedzie M/A, Nyinesin M/A, Mampong M/A, St. Peter’s Anglican and St. Cyprian’s Anglican Basic Schools.

The result of the quiz was as follows: Effutu Mampong M/A placed first with 55 points, Nyinesin M/A second with 44 points and Brabedzie M/A third with 43 points.