United Pension Trustees is advocating an end to the stigma surrounding menstruation, stressing that open dialogue and access to sanitary products are essential for protecting girls’ health and future.

As part of activities marking Menstrual Hygiene Day, the trustees, in collaboration with the Nkɔsuoɔhene of the Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Awuah-Darko Ampem II, organized a hygiene seminar for junior high school students in the Juaben Municipality and donated sanitary pads and soaps to over 2,000 girls.

Despite government rolling out the free sanitary pad initiative, the trustees believe more affordable sanitary products could help reduce menstrual poverty and stigma.

The event brought together eight schools in the Juaben Municipality, including Anglican JHS, Benevolent Islamic JHS, Presbyterian JHS, RC JHS, STEM JHS, Methodist JHS, MA JHS, and SDA JHS.

During the seminar, menstrual health and hygiene experts and Girl Child Education officers educated girls who have reached puberty on proper hygiene practices during and after menstruation.

The outreach also extended to boys, who were sensitised on general health issues, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Head of Investment at United Pension Trustees, Samira Nasiru, said the initiative forms part of the company’s social responsibility to support adolescent health, education, and menstrual equity in underserved communities.

“Inclusion, empowerment, and community development are core to our values, and this project reflects that. We’re always ready to contribute in any way we can to support people,” she said.

Ms. Nasiru noted that many girls still drop out of school due to stigma surrounding menstruation.

She explained that fear of embarrassment, lack of access to sanitary products, and inadequate sanitation facilities in schools often force some girls to stay home during their periods.

She stressed that breaking the silence around menstruation is critical to keeping girls in school and protecting their right to education.

“No girl should miss school or be placed at a disadvantage because of a natural biological process. Menstruation affects every woman, yet women’s health does not receive the attention it deserves. We hope to spark these conversations so more people can support menstrual hygiene education and public awareness in order to end the stigma,” she said.

She applauded the government’s free sanitary pad initiative for Senior High Schools but urged further interventions, noting that high taxes on sanitary products still make them unaffordable for many women.

Juaben Municipal Girl Child Education Officer, Yvonne Telfer, expressed gratitude to United Pension Trustees for its continued support for menstrual hygiene and girl child education.

She said the initiative had brought relief to many students who previously struggled to access sanitary products and called for continued collaboration to ensure that no girl’s education is disrupted by menstruation.

She also emphasised the importance of engaging boys in the conversation to reduce stigma, prevent teenage pregnancy, and promote shared responsibility for reproductive health in schools and communities.

Mrs. Telfer further appealed for logistical support to expand advocacy campaigns in schools, including educational materials, transportation, and training for peer educators.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28 to raise awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management globally. This year’s campaign is held under the theme: “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.”

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