By Rahamatu-Lahi Zakaria
All over the world, 28th of May is celebrated as international menstrual hygiene day. On this day, many organizations and individuals support the girl child with sanitary pads and other materials to help keep the girl child clean. But Norsaac, a locally based NGO in Tamale went the extra mile by educating to end stigmatization against girls and women and also advocating for water to some of the communities that do not have water.
Mrs. Hafsat Sey Sumani and Ms. Nancy Yeri of Norsaac were hosted by Mariam Pagnaa on Sanatu Zambang to discuss the day, what it means to Norsaac and the activities they are undertaking to mark the day. Mrs. Hafsat Sey Sumani reiterated the importance of water in achieving a 100% menstrual hygiene for girls by explaining how difficult it is for some communities to get water to drink.
‘’And for us, there is a lot to be done, menstruation goes with water. I bet if you go to some of these villages, there is nothing they can do, they don’t even have water to drink, and why will they use that to wash pads. So the first is, I need to be alive before.’’
She also added by appealing to individuals to help in the cause of getting water to this communities ‘’ We know we are relying so much on government but we also know that, even individual can also provide water. There are a lot of individuals who have more money than the government and I think that doing charity is not a crime. It is something that you will also benefit when you do it for people.’’
Norsaac which is also empowerment for change organization has empowered some of their beneficiaries like the young female parliament and young urban women to go to some of the communities that they work in to observe the day with the communities by educating them on menstrual hygiene. This was done in the form of durbars, meetings, and games.
With their advocacy work, Norsaac projects officers’ were involved in campaigns in the communities against the stigmatization of females during menstruation. Most females are stigmatized during menstruation. This stigmatization comes with myths that put restrictions on the girl child. This restriction in one way or the other affects the schooling of the girls. One of such cases was recorded in the Tatali district where a girl misses 75 days of schooling in the year.
Nancy Yeri was also of the belief that the change had to come from the girls themselves by empowering them to change their mindset. ‘’ It should start with the mindset of us the females first, that period is not uncleanliness and period is natural. In fact, if you don’t have your period you need to be scared as a woman.’’
‘’People need to realize that very well because if a girl is not having her period, it means there is something wrong. I should be able to tell you that I am in my period and it feels normal. That is how we should make it feel. It should start with ourselves.’’ She added
Norsaac over the past decade has worked with UNICEF, ActionAid, UNFPA, Plan Ghana International and other NGOs to educate and empower the girl child and women. The organization has also work to end some bad cultural practices and stigmatization of girls and women that affect them in the realization of their dreams.
