The Women’s Wing Secretariat of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Upper East Region led by Fawzia Abagnabama Yakubu Regional Women Organizer has added her voice to the controversial remark made by one Ms. Etonam Sey, founder of Inspire Today Foundation on some TV networks in Ghana, amongst them is 3Fm and GTV, where she claimed some Northern girls use clay as sanitary pads.
The remark made by Ms. Etonam Sey has since raised some amount of controversy and acrimony, especially on the part of the men and women from the north in every corner of the social media asking uncountable questions which are still begging for answers.
However, the Upper East Regional Women Organizer is also extending a call for the government to consider adding monthly quota sanitary pads to our FSHS girls’ beneficiaries to help them peacefully go through their natural cycle without hindrance to class attendance.
Read the full statement below:
PRESS RELEASE NORTHERN GIRLS USE CLAY AS SANITARY PADS SUBSTITUTE
Our attention has been drawn to a viral video purported to be an interview with one Ms. Etonam Sey, founder of Inspire Today Foundation on some TV networks in Ghana, amongst them is 3fm and GTV, claiming some Northern girls use clay as sanitary pads.
We are stating unequivocally that it’s a palpable lie, and not even in the ancient days did girls of northern Ghana ever use clay as substitute for sanitary pads.
If we may ask;
- In what form is this clay, and how will that clay absorb their flow (blood)?
- How will that clay be placed onto an underwear?
- How thick or thin is that clay?
- Specifically, which part of northern Ghana, region and community?
- We need to know these girls since it poses serious health concerns.
As much as the girls of the school you visited appreciate your kind gestures and efforts to aiding and improving their menstrual hygiene, we won’t take such wicked falsehood in the name of advocacy to help others.
Such wicked falsehood is an affront to the dignity of Northern girls. Hence, we demand proof of such claims or an unqualified apology via the same platforms and means within 7 days she used in peddling such falsehood. Anything short of the aforementioned demands, we shall advise ourselves accordingly.
WORLD INTERNATIONAL MENSTRUAL DAY
As the world also prepares to observe world menstrual day, we will want to use this opportunity to call on government to either reconsider the current tax rate on sanitary pads or use the Tax exemption law to exempt taxes on sanitary pads to make them affordable.
The government should also consider adding monthly quota sanitary pads to our FSHS girls’ beneficiaries to help them peacefully go through their natural cycle without hindrance to class attendance.
We will also want to appeal to producers and importers of sanitary pads to consider bringing or producing affordable but quality sanitary pads, specifically targeting our students and pupils to enable them have easy access to such now.
To all reproductive oriented CSO/NGOs, we say ayekoo, and let’s push further to demystify menstruation.
Signed
FAWZIA ABAGNABAMA YAKUBU
(NDC UER WOMEN ORGANISER)
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