Book on first menstrual experience launched

Accra, Oct.3, GNA - Mrs Catherine Abla Nutsugah-Mikado, Director of Girls Education Unit of Ghana Education Service, has called on parents to see the first menstrual experience of the girl- child as the beginning of an important reproductive life cycle.

She said the issue of adolescent reproductive health has been a major problem in the growing stages of the girl- child hence the need for parents not to miss this important opportunity and educate them on the necessary things to do.

Mrs Nutsugah-Mikado noted that if parents are able to make their girls understand these developmental stages on the first day of menstruation the rate of teenage pregnancies in the districts and the country at large would reduce.

The Director said this in Accra to launch the book 'Abrefi's Red Latter Day', a story based on the first menstrual experience of every normal girl who has reached puberty.

The book carefully written to allay the fears of girls during the first menstrual experience, teaches them what to do, what to eat during the period, how to keep themselves in a hygienic way and how to fix sanitary pads on the lower part of their underwear.

This would help the girl child as well as boys who read this book know that menstruation is normal and a blessing rather than a curse.

The theme: 'Girl Child Education: Removing the Barrier,' is to enable all girls get the chance to be educated irrespective of the situations confronting them.

She added that in other for the women to be at par with the men, there is the need for the boys to be educated on the changes that affects the girls during this stage to encourage them to be responsible adults.

Mrs Nutsugah-Mikado noted that Ghana Education Service data gathered recently showed about 252 girls in one region during the Basic Education Certificate Examination were pregnant which is alarming.

She advised parents to know that society is changing and therefore they must change the old trend of child upbringing to bring up good future leaders of the country.

The Director also encouraged the girls to be assertive, strong to be able to stand all the challenges that come their way report any case of abuse to the authorities at the right time.

Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, Second Lady speaking at the launch urged mothers especially to start reproductive health education from the home and not leave it solely for teachers to create a positive rapport between them and their children.

'Create the relationship to dialogue with the children especially the girl- child such that they can discuss their worries with them.'

Mrs Amissah- Arthur said there are so many misinformations about menstruation out there and as such this should be a wakeup call to all parents to teach their children on menstruation and sex to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

She said the book has come at the right time to enable parents know what to tell their girls during the period and expressed the hope that copies would be made available to all institutions, schools, hospitals and at the district level to help share the information.

GNA