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Menstrual Hygiene Day, Any Relevance to the Ghanaian Girl?

Nature has created its own system in girls where their bodies prepare for pregnancy every month by thickening the lining of the uterus. If there is no pregnancy, the uterus sheds this thick lining which is mostly blood away. The blood comes out of the body through the birth canal or vagina. This is what we commonly refer to as menstruation.

The process as I have tried to explain above sounds simple and painless but I believe a lot of young girls around the world have different stories to tell with regards to menstruation.

In this article, I look at what menstruation could mean to the Ghanaian young girl.

 

Absenteeism

Many young girls in Ghana will rather stay at home during their time of the month than to be in school because of very painful menstrual cramps which a lot of boys would not be able withstand if they were to menstruate.

Others basically do not have sanitary pads and cannot risk the shame of a spillage if they come to school with their improvised sanitary pads. Many young girls especially those in the villages cannot afford sanitary pads. They have no other option than to look to other means. A lady once told me that she uses cotton wool or toilet paper if she cannot afford sanitary pads. Am sure there are a lot of innocent young girls in similar situation today

Sometimes these young girls just want to avoid the trouble of being asked several times, “what is wrong?”  by their teachers and colleagues if they show any sign of discomfort in the classroom. Menstruation is personal and these innocent girls find it obviously difficult to tell a teacher, “it’s my time of the month” especially if the teacher is a male teacher.

Superstition

In this day and age it is very disturbing to see people hold on certain superstitions and norms which do not help our young girls in any way. Quite recently, I was very sad to be told a young girl had been taken to a prayer camp for healing because she is experiencing severe menstrual cramps. This is just an example of what young girls have to go through just because their uterus is shedding its lining. I have also heard the antidote to severe menstrual cramps is pregnancy. So no matter the age of a girl, getting her pregnant quickly will relief her of the pains of menstruation.

When I her stories like this, I ask myself, “is Ghana the worse place for young girls to menstruate?” Well, I can’t really tell but these stories shows the enormity of the task ahead in supporting our young girls. I strongly believe the time for change is now!

Other complications

Severe menstrual cramps, heavy menstrual bleeding, hormonal imbalances, thyroid problems, mood swings, inability to concentrate and other menstrual problems sums up the pain and discomfort young girls have to deal with because they were born girls.

In my part of the world, it could be more disturbing because we have basically failed to put in any result-oriented intervention that could help alleviate the pain of our young girls during menstruation. We make a lot of noise on 28th May of every year since the inception of the Menstrual Hygiene Day but what is there to show for the so called awareness creation. While many young girls in Ghana are not even aware of a day called Menstrual Hygiene Day, what is the relevance of such a day to Ghanaian girl?

Well, for now, I can only pray and hope for a brighter day.

 

 

 

Edinam  Ahiably-kumordjie

predahku@gmail.com

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 12, 2020 at 1:02 AM

    An excellent exposé on the plight of the young Ghanaian girl and by extension the Ghanaian woman during that time of the month.
    There should be a deliberate policy intervention by the Gender ministry as well as the Girls education unit of Ges such that specific programs are earmarked for the 28th of May every year in each district, municipal or metro and or schools

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  2. Nathalia LucasNovember 27, 2020 at 8:45 PM

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