The Orange Girl Foundation, in collaboration with the William Wilson Turner Foundation, hosted the highly anticipated Menstrual Health Conference under the theme “Flowing Towards a Sustainable Future: Menstrual Health Management for All”.
The event took place at the British Council Auditorium, bringing together relevant stakeholders passionate about menstrual health advocacy and gender equity. The keynote address was delivered by Rebecca Osam, CEO of Reflo Company Ltd, who highlighted the urgent need to make menstrual products accessible and affordable, particularly for school-going girls.
She stated, “Sanitary pads are not a luxury product; they are a necessity for women, who make up more than 50% of the population.
“It’s shocking that so many young girls have to endure immense challenges to access sanitary pads. Some even stay home from school because they can’t afford them. How can they compete with their male counterparts in such conditions?”
Rebecca advocated for sanitary pads to be priced between 3 to 5 cedis or made free and suggested that they should not exceed GHS 15 in high-end supermarkets. She also urged policymakers to eliminate taxes on menstrual products.
Concluding her remarks, Rebecca reaffirmed Reflo’s commitment to producing quality sanitary pads while championing efforts to make them both affordable and accessible to all.
The conference highlighted how menstrual inequity negatively impacts education, health and gender equality. Stakeholders were encouraged to support policies that prioritise menstrual health as a fundamental right, rather than a privilege.
