A project by the Keta National Service Secretariat aimed at supporting adolescent Menstrual Health and Hygiene in the Keta Municipality and Anloga District of the Volta Region has been launched in Keta.
The project dubbed “Pad A Girl” primarily targeted vulnerable adolescent girls in the two districts with the aim of equipping and supporting 3700 adolescent girls with sanitary pads, mentorship programmes and education on Menstrual Health Management.
In its second year, the “Pad A Girl” project collaborated with Marisis Aid and NAYADO Foundation to distribute 3,700 packs of Sanitary Pads to a cross-section of vulnerable adolescent girls’ whiles empowering them through mentorship programmes to enable them stay in school.
Speaking at the event, the Volta/Oti Regional Director of the National Service Secretariat, Mr Ambrose Entsiwah Junior noted that most girls in deprived communities resort to using unhygienic materials during menstruation because they cannot afford sanitary pads. This practice, he intimated, poses a health risk among such girls. Mr Entsiwah Junior commended the Keta NSS Director for this initiative and appealed to members of the community to support such projects when they are called upon.
Mr Gabriel Osei Junior, the Municipal Director of Keta National Service Secretariat, indicated that the “Pad A Girl” project is an offshoot of the Secretariat’s “Stay in School Initiative” which aims at encouraging and supporting children of school-going age to be in school. Mr Osei Junior stated that this year’s project is over ten times what was done last year.
According to him, the value of the Sanitary Pads that is being distributed to 3,700 girls is in excess of GH23,000 cedis. He thanked Marisis Aid and NAYADO Foundation for their support in bringing this project into fruition. Mr Osei added that the Secretariat shall continue to embark on targeted interventions to encourage vulnerable adolescent girls and boys to stay in school as part of the its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
The CEO of Marisis Aid, Miss Linda Nana Frema Nyarko, posited that menstrual hygiene is a delicate issue in our society hence her organisation’s decision to play a significant role this year by donating towards Keta NSS “Pad A Girl” project. According to her, Marisis Aid’s vision is to care for the underprivileged whiles spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. She acknowledged Efal Company Ltd.’s role in helping make this dream a reality.
Nana Yaa Ampem Darkowah-Otchere, the CEO of NAYADO Foundation (a subsidiary of NAYADO Group), on her part was excited at the opportunity to provide mentorship and empowerment programme to the young girls. Her passion to see women and girls break the glass ceiling and the chance to impact the lives of the students are what motivated her Foundation to be a part of this epoch-making event.
The Municipal Director of Education, in his remarks, thanked the Keta NSS and Personnel for their foresight. He was elated at the intervention and called for a concerted effort to improve the lives of the vulnerable in the society.
Here are some pictures:
Source: Keta Municipality NSS
