Story by Richard Kofi Boahen, Kenyasi
The Underground Mining Alliance (UMA) last Thursday organized a menstrual hygiene sensitization programme for pupils of basic schools in and around Kenyasi in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region to commemorate this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The event, held under the theme, “Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life,” brought together pupils from various basic schools in the area and sought to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene among adolescent girls.
As part of the programme, UMA distributed approximately 1,000 sanitary pads to female pupils who attended the event.
Speaking during the programme, Madam Hannah Osam-Pinanko, a Midwife at the Asutifi North District Hospital in Kenyasi, educated participants on proper menstrual hygiene management and the importance of maintaining personal hygiene during menstruation.
She noted that an estimated eight million females menstruate daily around the world and encouraged the girls not to feel embarrassed about menstruation, describing it as a natural and normal biological process experienced by women and girls.
Madam Osam-Pinanko further advised the participants to observe high standards of personal hygiene at all times, particularly during their menstrual periods, and to maintain healthy eating habits by consuming balanced diets rich in fruits and vegetables.
The programme also featured a practical demonstration on the correct use of sanitary pads and their safe disposal after use.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28 to raise global awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management and to promote access to menstrual health education and sanitary products.
In Ghana, various initiatives, including campaigns by the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders, continue to address period poverty, challenge menstrual stigma in schools, and improve access to sanitation facilities to reduce school absenteeism among girls.
Underground Mining Alliance
UMA said the initiative forms part of its corporate social responsibility efforts aimed at promoting menstrual health awareness and supporting the well-being of girls in its host communities.
As a contractor at the Newmont Ahafo South Mine, UMA has over the years implemented a number of community development projects in areas such as education, healthcare, sports, infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
UMA is an ASX-listed diversified mining services group with more than 35 years of industry experience and operations across four continents.
