Only 48.5per cent of households have access to hand washing facilities while one in three women do not have access to a toilet during menstruation, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) has found.
The survey done around 2017 and 2018 indicated that many Ghanaians did not have access to sanitary products and managed their menses using unhygienic items like newspaper or leaves.
According to a press statement issued in Accra yesterday and signed by the Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Anthony Boateng said sanitary facility was paramount in maintaining and improving menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.
He stated that the economic and social impacts of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus had increased the plight of the citizenry, thus would make it more difficult for adolescent girls to afford relevant sanitary materials.
“Increase in cost of commodities may result in many adolescent girls and women having less ability to afford or access relevant sanitary materials,” Mr Boateng added.
In order for girls to maintain and improve menstrual hygiene, he called for continuous education targeting girls, boy and parents while making accessibility to menstrual hygiene products easier.
Mr Boateng insisted that provision of toilet facilities which are gender friendly with changing rooms would enhance personal hygiene, adding that “demystification of myths and taboos connected with menstruation must stop.”
He urged parent and individuals to leverage on the movement restrictions to educate adolescent girls on means to maintain good hygiene during menstruation.
“The closure of schools may lead to fewer girls and boys having basic information in relation to menstrual hygiene management,” Mr Boateng added.
BY TIMES REPORTER
