In commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, journalists across Ghana have been urged to play a leading role in challenging harmful norms, promoting menstrual hygiene, and advocating for the sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) of girls and women.
This call was made during a media training session organised by the CSOs Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at strengthening the capacity of journalists in menstrual health management and effective reporting.
The training workshop brought together media professionals from across the country to deepen their understanding of menstrual health issues and equip them to use their platforms to combat stigma and misconceptions.
In his presentation, Archibald Adams, Communications, Media and Public Engagement Lead at Oxfam in Ghana, emphasized that media practitioners possess both the tools and the moral imperative to reshape public perception around menstruation and break the culture of silence that continues to stigmatise it.
According to Archibald, SRHR goes beyond access to medical services; it encompasses the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of individuals in matters relating to sexuality and reproduction. Drawing from definitions by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund, Archibald reiterated that every individual—regardless of gender, religion, age, or ability—has the right to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. This includes access to family planning, protection from gender-based violence, and the right to dignified menstruation.
Menstruation, he noted, is a biological process controlled by hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. It is not a disease, nor should it be a source of shame or stigma. Yet across many Ghanaian communities, menstruating girls and women continue to face discrimination due to myths that label menstrual blood as “impure” or consider menstruation a curse. In some traditions, menstruating women are banned from participating in religious ceremonies, cooking, farming, or even fetching water. These restrictions, Archibald stressed, are not only scientifically unfounded but also infringe on basic human rights and perpetuate gender inequality.
“One of the biggest obstacles we face is the culture of silence,” Archibald stated. “Girls are often not educated about menstruation before their first period. Parents, teachers, and even health professionals avoid the subject, leaving many to rely on inaccurate information from peers or media.” He added that such gaps in knowledge leave girls vulnerable to shame, school absenteeism, and even gender-based violence.
Addressing these barriers requires a multi-sectoral approach, and Archibald believes the media can play a transformative role. “When journalists choose to tell these stories, to highlight the truth, and to hold authorities accountable, they help change lives,” he said. Quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Archibald reminded participants that the role of the media is not just to inform but to empower.
Archibald outlined practical ways in which journalists can contribute to menstrual health advocacy.
He urged journalists to critically investigate the Free Sanitary Pad Policy, a GHS292.4 million initiative in the 2025 national budget targeting two million girls in public schools. He emphasized the need to assess its implementation, coverage, and potential misuse.
Beyond scrutiny, he called on the media to normalise menstruation through inclusive content—talk shows, documentaries, social media, and editorials—that challenge myths and feature experts and personal stories.
“By featuring medical professionals, educators, and girls sharing their experiences, we can create an environment where menstruation is understood as natural and not taboo,” he clarified.
Archibald highlighted the importance of language and access, urging the use of local languages like Dagbani, Twi, and Ewe in radio programmes to reach underserved rural communities.
He also encouraged the media to spotlight the lived experiences of menstruators, including students, parents, and teachers, to humanise menstrual health issues and promote change.
Other recommendations included town halls with NGOs, infographics, and factual reporting to counter harmful beliefs, such as the superstition that menstrual blood has ritualistic uses.
This multifaceted approach, he said, can drive awareness and accountability.
Menstrual health, Archibald furthered, should not be framed as a girls-only issue. According to him, boys must be educated to become allies, not bullies, and efforts must be made from early education stages to instill values of gender equality and empathy.
National Coordinator of the Civil Society Organisations Platform on Sustainable Development Goals, Levlyn Konadu Asiedu, observed that the initiative was born out of a need to close the communication gap between menstruators and the knowledge they have access to—particularly through the powerful medium of mass broadcasting.
“Even though journalists are already trained and certified to practice, every profession requires continuous professional development. This is especially important in specific subject areas such as menstrual health management,” she explained.
“Journalists are key stakeholders when it comes to spreading information. Using both traditional and social media, they can help amplify the conversation around menstruation and reach larger audiences,” she added.
She also drew attention to the economic barriers many girls face in accessing sanitary pads, which continues to affect school attendance and overall well-being. According to Levlyn, while government interventions such as the Free Sanitary Pad Initiative are commendable, more needs to be done to raise awareness and ensure implementation reaches every beneficiary.
“The affordability and availability of sanitary products remain a major hurdle. Girls in rural or low-income communities often can’t access the products they need to manage their periods safely and with dignity. By drawing public attention to these issues, journalists can influence stakeholders to take action,” she said.
A sexual and reproductive health advocate, Latifa Abdul Hadi revealed critical challenges facing girls in managing menstruation across six districts—Ashaiman, Awutu Senya, Kaso, Savelugu, Sagnarigu, and West Mamprusi. According to her study, while 95% of respondents use disposable sanitary pads, 60.3% cited high costs as a major barrier, with 23% reporting that girls become vulnerable to sexual exploitation to access menstrual products.
She shared that only 32.6% of girls have access to proper washrooms in school, and the lack of menstrual support is linked to increased depression, anxiety, and stress.
The study recommended consistent distribution of free pads in schools, integrating menstrual hygiene education into curricula, and involving communities to combat stigma.
The study also called on the Ministry of Sanitation to urgently improve school Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
The training workshop is part of the Youth for Health Project co-funded by the European Commission and supported by the CSOs Platform on the SDGs.
