The Obuasi East District Education Directorate has launched a new initiative called the Pad Bank Project to support the education and well-being of girls in the district.
This project aims to address the issue of menstrual hygiene management, which has been a significant barrier to education for many girls.
The launch event took place at Christ the King Catholic Senior High School in Akaporiso, Obuasi East District, Ashanti Region.
Girls Education Officer for the district, Gifty Sarpong Achampong, spoke on the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the area, attributing it to economic hardships that force young girls into exploitative relationships with miners and motorcycle riders for as little as GHC 10 to GHC 20.
Gifty Sarpong appealed to the public to support the Pad Bank Project by donating sanitary pads to ensure its sustainability.
She emphasized that many teenage pregnancies stem from girls engaging in such relationships to afford menstrual products and avoid missing school.
Students from various junior high and senior high schools in the district shared their experiences, revealing the challenges they face due to financial constraints.
One student mentioned that she often has to improvise because she cannot afford sanitary pads, while another spoke about the stigma that discourages her from attending school.
The peer pressure to obtain money from boyfriends for menstrual products was also highlighted.
The Pad Bank Project aims to alleviate these issues by providing a steady supply of sanitary pads to girls in need, ensuring they can continue their education without interruption or the need to engage in risky behaviors.