Basic Schools In Offinso receive menstrual hygiene items On Menstrual Hygiene Day from health worker
Over 500 pupils from some basic schools in the Offinso South Municipality have benefited from a generous donation of menstrual hygiene items as part of the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day observation observed on May, 28.
Mr. Benjamin Fosu Owusu-Ansah, a Registered General Nurse at Abofour Health Centre in Offinso, presented the donation as part of his “Menstrual Pad Bank initiative,” aimed at supporting vulnerable female school children.
The initiative was made possible with the support of individuals such as Mrs. Beatrice Efua Mensimah Awortwi Prath, Jennifer Boakye, Mrs. Leticia Nortey, Mrs. Augustina Ama Acheampomaa, Mrs. Felicia Koomson, Mr Kobina Fosu, Mr Kofi Amoah, and the founder of on “The Road” Empress Esi Amoah.
Pupils from four basic schools in Offinso South – Ahwirikrom M/A JHS, Kyebi M/A JHS, Berekum M/A JHS, Kwapaning JHS, Amaning and Wawase – each received a sanitary pad and other toiletries to promote menstrual hygiene with dignity.
Mr. Benjamin Fosu Owusu-Ansah, speaking to a journalist Kaakyire Kwasi Afari, he highlighted the unfortunate reality that some vulnerable pupils resort to using unhygienic materials, notably cotton wood, toilet rolls, and papers to manage their menstrual flow.
The event also provided an opportunity for the pupils, including boys, to receive education on menstrual hygiene, including how to use sanitary pads and dispel misconceptions about menstruation.
Mr. Owusu-Ansah emphasized the importance of involving men in menstrual hygiene discussions to promote understanding and support.
After the education and discussions, some pupils enthusiastically demonstrated how to properly use and fix sanitary pads, showcasing their newfound understanding of menstrual hygiene practices.
The public health nurse expressed concern about the alarming rate of school absenteeism among girls due to lack of access to sanitary pads.
To end such situations, he called on stakeholders and philanthropists to support the initiative and provide sanitary pads to teenage girls, enabling them to maintain their dignity and hygiene.
Mr. Owusu-Ansah has consistently demonstrated his commitment to improving health outcomes through various initiatives, including visiting hard-to-reach villages and engaging communities in awareness creation and sensitization efforts towards achieving universal health coverage.
Over the years, he has successfully solicited support from local and international partners to equip health facilities and made numerous donations to vulnerable populations and the aged.
In 2019, he received the Ashanti Regional Best Nurse Award, presented by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), in acknowledgment of his exemplary performance, commitment to patient care, and dedication to healthcare in the Ashanti Region.
The following year, Mr. Owusu-Ansah was honoured with the 2020 Offinso Municipal Best Nurse Award, also awarded by the GRNMA, for outstanding nursing practice and exceptional service delivery in the municipality
Mr. Benjamin Fosu Owusu-Ansah humanitarian efforts, including support for the underprivileged, medical donations, and community health advocacy, earned him the 2021 Best Humanitarian Health Worker Award.
In the same year, he received the 2021 Outstanding Youth in Health Award, recognizing youth leadership and innovation in healthcare delivery and community outreach.
In 2022, his dedication to rural healthcare, innovation, and improving health access in underserved areas was acknowledged with the Best Rural Health Service Worker Award (Ashanti Region), presented by the GRNMA.
*Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari, Journalist.*
