For centuries, the belief that menstruation renders women “unclean” has persisted through cultural and religious traditions.
These long-standing taboos continue to fuel period-related shame and discrimination, while limiting access to sanitation and education for girls and women.
Menstrual justice advocates say menstruation is a natural biological process and should not be associated with stigma or impurity.
The concerns were highlighted during Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations as Development Bank Ghana (DBG) rolled out a menstrual hygiene Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
As part of the outreach programme, DBG donated more than 10,000 sanitary pads and educated students on menstrual health at Tepa Senior High School and Mabang Senior High School in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality, as well as CMI Carmel School in the Tano South Municipal District.
The campaign focused on promoting menstrual hygiene awareness and breaking taboos surrounding menstruation.
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at DBG, Barbara Anawonu Wricketts, said menstruation is not a sign of being dirty, unhygienic, or morally impure.
She stressed the importance of education and open conversations in empowering women and girls to manage their periods with dignity.
“Menstruation is a normal part of women’s lives, and the long-held misconception that it makes a woman ‘unclean’ must stop, because it is the Creator who ordained it as part of women’s lives. That belief often leads to stigma, isolation and shame,” Ms. Anawonu Wricketts stated.
She noted that the stigma is often evident when people, particularly men, avoid getting close to women during their periods or treat them differently.
According to her, such attitudes reinforce harmful stereotypes, discourage open discussions about menstrual health, and undermine girls’ confidence in school, work and social settings.
“Challenging the myth and normalising menstruation is essential if we want to create a society where women and girls can manage their periods with dignity and without fear of judgment,” she added.
Commenting further on the initiative, Ms. Anawonu Wricketts said DBG regularly distributes sanitary pads to students as part of its targeted CSR interventions.
She explained that the outreach aligns with the bank’s broader mandate to support human capital development by addressing both access and awareness challenges.
“Our goal is to remove the practical and social barriers that keep girls out of the classroom. By combining sanitary pad distribution with targeted education, we are helping to normalise conversations around menstruation and support the confidence of women, especially students, during their periods,” she said.
She reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting menstrual health programmes and expanding access to sanitary products for girls and women.
School authorities welcomed the initiative, noting that many students struggle to afford sanitary pads each month, forcing some girls to miss classes.
Madam Helena Baffoe Adentwi, Senior House Mistress at Tepa SHS, described the educational component targeting both boys and girls as critical in changing attitudes within the school community.
According to her, open conversations help dispel myths surrounding menstruation and create a supportive environment where girls feel comfortable seeking help while boys learn to show understanding instead of stigma.
Female students who participated in the seminar and donation exercise expressed appreciation for DBG’s intervention.
“This support means a lot to us,” one student said. “Many of us had no choice but to use rags or scraps of paper during our periods, which put us at risk of infections and other health issues. With access to proper sanitary products, we can manage our menstruation with dignity and attend classes without fear or embarrassment.”
The students noted that the donation is expected to reduce absenteeism and restore confidence, allowing them to focus fully on their studies.
DBG is a Development Finance Institution that supports businesses in Ghana and provides long-term capital to the market while ensuring sustainable global best practices across its operations.
