In a show of advocacy and compassion, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Tongu, Victoria Amefadzi Yawa Doe, led the charge to break the silence and shame around menstruation as she engaged dozens of schoolgirls and community members during this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration.

Speaking with warmth and purpose, the DCE dismissed long-standing myths around menstruation and called for open dialogue, respect, and institutional support for girls.

“Menstruation is not a curse or a taboo. It is a natural phenomenon that every girl experiences,” she emphasized to loud applause from students and teachers.

Madam Yawa Doe didn’t stop at awareness she announced a practical intervention that is set to transform lives.

She revealed that under the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s flagship programme, every basic schoolgirl in the country will soon receive free sanitary pads to ensure no girl misses school because of her period.

“This is more than a promise—it is a commitment to dignity, health, and equal opportunity,” she said. “We want our girls to be in class, confident and unashamed.”

The DCE urged the students to share this vision with their families.

“Keep faith with the NDC government, and tell your parents to do the same,” she added. “We are working to make sure no girl is left behind.”

Health professionals, including nurses from the district health service, were also on-site to provide education on menstrual hygiene, offering hands-on demonstrations and addressing questions from the girls.

Their presence reinforced the community-wide call for safe, supportive, and stigma-free environments for adolescent girls.

For many of the students, it was the first time hearing such open and affirming messages about their periods—breaking the silence that too often isolates young girls.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is marked globally to raise awareness and combat the social, educational, and health challenges girls face during menstruation.

In North Tongu, this year’s observance was a bold reminder that leadership and empathy can shape a future where every girl bleeds with dignity, not shame.