Poor sanitation and menstrual stigma threaten girls’ dignity in rural Ghana – REEP Ghana
The Executive Director of REEP Ghana, Hairiya Bala, has decried the deplorable state of sanitation facilities and entrenched menstrual stigma that continue to strip girls and women, especially in rural Ghana, of their dignity and right to safe menstrual health management.
She warned that the absence of adequate toilet facilities and limited access to essential hygiene materials demand massive investment in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, coupled with sustained public education.
The Executive Director issued the stark warning in Tamale during a menstrual dignity awareness campaign organized under the REEP Ghana Ambassadors on the Menstrual Cup Project.
She insisted that menstruation must never be a source of humiliation and exclusion.
“Menstruation is a natural phenomenon; however, stigma and shame continue to affect young girls and women, especially in rural communities,” she said.
The campaign was designed to amplify the voices of young people, particularly girls, to openly confront menstrual health challenges while mobilizing boys and young men as allies in dismantling menstrual stigma.
Ms. Bala maintained that robust community engagement and frank conversations are critical to demolishing dangerous myths surrounding menstruation and fostering an environment where girls and women can seek help without fear of ridicule or shaming.
She called on the government, development partners, and traditional authorities to urgently prioritize investments in well-equipped toilet facilities, handwashing materials, and other essential WASH infrastructure to transform menstrual hygiene management in underserved communities.
“Every young woman deserves to menstruate with dignity,” she emphasised.
The campaign is part of the REEP Ghana Ambassadors on the Menstrual Cup Project, also known as the RAMCA project, implemented in partnership with 100% for the Children, with funding support from CISRA.
The initiative seeks to bolster awareness on menstrual dignity, reshape public attitudes toward menstruation, and galvanize collective action to build safer, more supportive environments for girls and women.
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