The main aim of the project was to bridge the gender gap between boys and girls in schools and create equal opportunities for all. The project targeted selected areas in the Northern, Brong Ahafo and Upper East regions of Ghana.
Some of the selected areas for the implementation of the project included Babato-Kuma, Kurabaso and Abilba.
Project Achievements
1.Provision of sanitary Pads
AFAWI Ghana team of implementers were expected to deliver and distribute sanitary pads to 417 female students in Babato-Kuma L/A Junior High School, Kurabaso L/A JHS and Abilba Number 1 L/A JHS, with 3,336 number of sanitary pads expected to be distributed to the three schools monthly. The total number of sanitary pads expected to be delivered and distributed within the first four months of implementation was 13,344 pieces. A total of 3,264 have been distributed so far.
Beneficiaries were initially unfamiliar with the use of the sanitary pads. Students were therefore taken through the use of the sanitary pads through demonstrations. Students were also taught the advantages of the use of the pads.
2.Provision of Incinerators
The project was expected to produce newly constructed functional incinerators in the three selected schools. H
owever successful implementations were only made at Babato-Kuma L/A JHS and Kurabaso L/A JHS, leaving out Abilba Number 1 JHS. It is expected that the second tranche of fund will facilitate the installation in Abilba Number 1 JHS.
The incinerators will provide students, especially girls, an avenue where their used sanitary pads could be disposed hygienically. The activity was expected to produce a short term result of improved girl and boy friendly sanitary facilities and its mid term result was to improve access in healthy, hygienic and girl-friendly sanitary facilities in the three selected schools.
3.Sensitization and dissemination workshop on adolescents’ sexual maturation and menstrual management practices and HIV/AIDS awareness among students.
The sensitization workshop was to conduct separate meetings for boys and girls and to bring students together in each of the three selected schools in order to sensitize and disseminate information on sexual maturation and menstrual hygiene management and HIV/AIDS awareness. By so doing our short term result was to increase knowledge on sexual maturation and menstrual hygiene management for girls and boys.
The total number of students planned for the sensitization workshop in the three schools was 814, out of this a total of 338 students have participated in the sensitization workshop in Babato-Kuma L/A JHS. This has increased their knowledge on sexual maturation, menstrual hygiene management and HIV/AIDS.
Other areas that contributes to the achievements of AFAWI Ghana during this project includes
- Round table discussions for policy makers on curriculum development in sexual maturation and menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health.
- Enhanced teaching and learning environment on sexual maturation and menstrual hygiene management practices for girls and boys.
- Organization of a capacity building workshop which took the form of training of trainers (TOT) for all students and teachers of the three selected schools.
Success Stories.
Initially AFAWI Ghana’s research conducted indicated a low level of student (girls) knowledge on menstrual management practices and poor menstrual management - unhygienic sanitary materials such as used cloths and toilet rolls were used during menstrual periods by young girls in Babato-Kuma L/A JHS in Kintampo North District. Our monitoring investigations revealed that girls are able to manage their menstrual period with no difficulties, and with the introduction of the sanitary pads (Always Ultra) girls are able to use their sanitary napkins without any help from their female teachers. In an interview with the head master of the school on the attendance rate of girls in Babato-Kuma, he explained that it has been encouraging. This he related to the fact that with the introduction of the students to sanitary pads students no more worry of how to present themselves during their menses.
The incidence of open defecation among community members and other levels of classes in Babato-Kuma L/A JHS has reduced tremendously due to an extensive sensitization program embarked on by AFAWI and the chief of Babato-Kuma.
Again female teachers and girls now have access to and are in control of the rehabilitated sanitary facilities and the incinerators, as these assets were formerly in the control of male teachers and students.
