The Adenta, Kpone Katamanso, and Shai Osudoku districts in collaboration with Young Trust Foundation and UNESCO Ghana have commemorated World Menstrual Hygiene Day with a seminar to educate young girls about menstrual health.

The workshop which was themed, “Empowering Young School Girls: My Period, My Confidence”, brought together over 500 adolescent girls from basic and senior high schools.

Speaking at the event, the special guest of honour, retired Deputy Director of Education for the Adentan Municipal Education Directorate, Mrs Diana Osei Tawiah, highlighted the critical importance of menstrual health and hygiene.

Mrs Tawiah encouraged parents and teachers to educate themselves about menstrual health and hygiene in order to help end the stigma associated with periods and to teach girls that experiencing these changes is perfectly normal.

She encouraged open conversations about reproductive health, ensuring that girls have access to accurate information and resources.

“By focusing our efforts on providing menstrual hygiene products, we are not just meeting a basic need, we are investing in the potential of every girl to become a leader, innovator, and change-maker,” she said on Tuesday.

Mrs Tawiah further explained that menstruation is a reminder of the body's ability to create life, grow, and change.

She therefore urged young girls to embrace their periods with confidence, seeing it as a testament to their femininity and power.

“Menstruation is a rite of passage marks the beginning of womanhood yet it often comes with challenges and misconceptions. But remember that your period is not just a biological process it is a symbol of strength, growth, and an incredible journey ahead.

“I want you to know that your period does not define you it is a natural part of life that should be celebrated not feared. It is a reminder of your body’s ability to create life, to grow, and to change. So embrace it with confidence knowing that it is a testament to your femininity and power,” she noted.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the Deputy Director of the Diversity and Inclusive Education Unit, Nana Ama Mensah, Doris Makafui Dzene urged the girls not to be ashamed of having their period instead, she asked the young girls to take pride in it since it was a sign of their womanhood.

“As females, we must acknowledge that menstruation is a natural process, a sign of a healthy body, a symbol of fertility. Yet across certain societies, it is still a subject often veiled in stigma, myths and silence.

“Though there have been significant approaches to solving these barriers, more work needs to be done in order to create an environment of openness, understanding and support,” she said.

Interacting with the media on the sidelines, the Project Director of the Young Trust Foundation, Benedicta Asante, indicated that menstruation should not impede a girl’s social life.

The training, therefore, is to empower young girls and ensure that they exhibit confidence at all times, even during their period.

“If you’re menstruating as a young one, you should be confident, not timid. Don’t say because of your period, you want to stay at home instead of going to school or having fun with your friends. All these don’t bring out the best in our young ones.

“We’re therefore using this day to encourage all young girls not to hesitate to seek support from their teachers, parents, and organizations like the Young Trust Foundation. We are all here to help them at all times.”

As part of the training, 1000 Faytex sanitary pads were distributed to the young girls.

The adolescent girls were also taught important health tips related to menstruation.

Participants of the event, Naa Borteley of Saasabi Kpone Katamanso Basic School said Nanna Efua Asare-Bediako, a student of Valley View University Basic School saw the training as enlightening and pledged to practice what they’ve been taught.