The government should provide changing rooms for girls in schools -Retired broadcaster Cum Chief
Retired broadcaster Dagbon Timtoni Naa, Hajia Sawuratu Alhassan, has called for the establishment of girls changing rooms and an adequate water supply in both secondary schools in the northern region. She made call while giving her speech on World Menstrual Day Celebration In Yendi.
Hajia Sawuratu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Pagba Saha Foundation, said it is sad that young girls at the various educational institutions still face problems during their menses in the school environment.
She is not happy that teenage pregnancy among schoolgirls is still high and calls for more education for adolescent girls. Hajia Sawuratu said Ghana Health Service 2020 data on teenage pregnancy indicates that 13,444 girls aged 10–14 years and 542,131 girls aged 15–19 years
The data placed the northern region sixth with 42,533 teenage pregnancy cases in the country. These Hajia Sawuratu notes are disturbing, and all efforts must be put in place to change them. She was speaking at an event organized by the Pagba Saha Foundation to mark Global Menstrual Hygiene Day, which falls on May 28 each year, at the Assembly Hall of Yendi Senior High School.
The celebration brought together some basic SHS schools within the municipality. The students debated whose responsibility it is to ensure that young girls menstrual hygiene needs are taken care of. Hajia Sawuratu appealed to the government, the Ghana Education Service, and the Ministry of Education to make provisions in schools for girls to change their sanitary pads.
The Chief Executive Officer of MASLCO, Hajia Habiba Shani Mahama, who was the guest of honor, stated that the responsibility for girl child menstrual hygiene issues is not solely for mothers.
She advised young girls to always keep themselves neat, not only when they are in their menses. She explained that not practising proper sanitation could lead to certain diseases.
She encouraged the young girls to take their schooling seriously because the government has shown serious commitment to the education sector. According to her, the cost of SHS education has been absorbed by the government, and students only need to study hard to become responsible feature leaders.
The King of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Naa, whose message was delivered by the Yeni Kpehi Naa, who represented him, said everyone is born by a woman and their needs must be of concern to all.
The King said his reign would ensure the welfare of women and advised young girls to listen to their parents and the elderly and also take their studies seriously.
Mohammed Ibrahim, Hread of ZaaNews