Relief and joy have returned to hundreds of girls in the Bawku Municipality who previously struggled to balance their education with the challenges of menstrual hygiene.
For years, many adolescent girls missed school during their menstrual cycles due to the inability of parents and caregivers to afford sanitary products. Some even dropped out entirely.
This painful reality was brought to national attention through the acclaimed documentary “Period Poverty: Girls in Bawku Battle Bullets and Dreams”, produced by journalist Moses Apiah and aired on July 29, 2025. The film highlighted the struggles of girls who not only faced insecurity due to the Bawku conflict but also endured period poverty that hindered their academic progress.
Following the documentary’s impact, the government, through its free sanitary pad distribution initiative, delivered thousands of sanitary products on September 15, 2025, to all public basic schools in the Bawku Municipality. The intervention aims to ensure that girls stay in school during their menstrual periods without disruption.
Speaking to our reporter, Madam Matilda Abolga, the Municipal Girl-Child Officer, confirmed that the initiative will cover all pupils within the menstrual age range. She explained that girls from primary four to six, as well as those in junior high schools, will benefit. Plans, she added, are far advanced to extend the distribution to private schools in the area.
“There are about 170 public schools in the Bawku Municipality serving over 27,000 pupils. Every eligible girl will receive the support to make sure no one is left behind,” Madam Abolga assured.
Among the beneficiaries are 13-year-old Gifty and 16-year-old Rita (not their real names), both of whom were featured in the documentary. They expressed excitement and gratitude to the government and stakeholders for responding swiftly to their plight.
“Now we can focus on learning without fear of missing school during our period,” Gifty said with a smile.
The free sanitary pad initiative is widely seen as a significant step toward promoting gender equality in education, improving menstrual hygiene, and addressing barriers that limit girls’ academic potential in conflict-prone areas like Bawku.
For many young girls, this support marks not just the end of period poverty, but the beginning of renewed hope for a brighter future.
Source: A1radioonline.com | Moses Apiah | Bawku
