Gold Fields Ghana Foundation's Peer Educators Transform Menstrual Health Attitudes in Host Schools

Speaking at an event commemorating World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Mohammed detailed the significant impact of the Foundation's Adolescent Health Reproductive Training program, which has focused on training student peer educators since 2019.

Integration and Impact:

Ayishetu Mohammed revealed that observing Menstrual Hygiene Day has become an integrated part of the academic calendar every term for students in public schools across Tarkwa and Damang, the mining company's host communities. To mark the global day this year, GFGF teams visited 15 of these host community schools.

"The exciting part is witnessing the peer educators in action, educating their fellow peers on menstrual hygiene," Mohammed stated. "I can confidently say the peer educators are doing exceptionally well, and the programme has been truly impactful."

From Teasing to Support:
The most striking transformation, Ayishetu emphasized, has been the change in boys' behaviour. "At first, when we visited some schools, boys would often tease girls who had started menstruating," she recalled. "But now, this is a thing of the past."

The peer education initiative has fostered a remarkable shift towards empathy and practical support. "Now, the boys support the females when they are menstruating," Mohammed reported. Highlighting the depth of understanding achieved, she added, "Some of the boys even know how to fix the pad and how to keep proper hygiene during menstruation."

Peer Power Driving Change:
The program's core strategy involves empowering students themselves – the peer educators – to lead conversations and education sessions on menstrual health within their schools. This approach has proven highly effective in normalizing menstruation and disseminating crucial hygiene information in a relatable way.

Foundation Commitment:The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation's consistent focus on adolescent health and menstrual hygiene since 2019 underscores its commitment to the well-being and education of young people in its operational areas. The visible change in school culture, particularly the emergence of supportive male allies, is hailed as a major success of this community investment initiative.

The Foundation's work demonstrates how sustained peer education, integrated into the school system and supported by community engagement, can effectively dismantle menstrual stigma and promote a healthier, more supportive environment for adolescent girls.

Source: Nana Esi Brew Monney

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Space FM.