Myths, taboos on menstruation still linger due to inadequate education – Expert

An advocate for Women’s health and pharmacist at the Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited (TPL), Paulina Frimpong Asante, has attributed the persistent taboos and myths about menstruation to inadequate education on menstrual hygiene.
28^th May marks  World Menstrual Hygiene (MH) Day, an annual global event to raise awareness about the challenges women and girls face due to menstruation.
The day is also celebrated to highlight solutions that address challenges  with menstruation.
The theme for the 2020 Menstrual Hygiene (MH) Day, “It’s Time for Action”, seeks to push the importance of raising awareness of the challenges women and girls face during menstruation.
Discussing  Menstrual Hygiene (MH) Day on Atinka FM’s AM Drive with host Ekourba Gyasi, Paulina Frimpong Asante, said the education on menstrual hygiene is generally low as compared to other topics.
According to her, it’s appropriate that girls are educated on menstruation even before they experience the first menstrual period or menarche.
Paulina Frimpong Asante added that prior education on the topic takes fear away from the girls as well as gives girls the courage to tell their older siblings when they experience their menarche.
Team leader for Global neighbourhood Healthcare Development, Lartey Benjamin, who was part of the discussion, called on men especially those with female kids to take it upon themselves to learn menstrual hygiene in order to take care of their girl child during the menarche.
Rev. Patrick Banafoh, who is with the School Health Education Program Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said the Service has enshrined menstrual hygiene in its curriculum.
He noted that although the menstrual hygiene in schools starts with the adolescent child, GES is aware that things have changed in that 10 year-old girls have already experienced menarche.
According to the educationist, both boys and girls are taken through the menstrual hygiene classes.
 
 
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa