The Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) has launched the first edition of its Period Health Empowerment Guide (PHEG) in Bolgatanga to help youth and communities across Ghana understand and manage menstrual and reproductive health.
Unveiled on June 5, 2025, during Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations, the guide aims to equip girls and communities with practical tools on menstruation, sexual health, and self-care. GAYO described the guide as a “portable revolution” that brings clarity, dignity, and confidence to every young person navigating their menstrual journey.
The event, themed “Menstrual Health and Climate Action: Making the Pad Policy Work for Every Girl,” was co-organised with WaterAid Ghana, FAWE, Right To Play, and FHI360. It brought together stakeholders from the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, the Department of Gender, traditional leaders, assemblies, and youth groups.
Speaking on behalf of Executive Director Richard Matey, GAYO’s Project Coordinator, Benedict Fosu Arthur, stressed the guide’s role in helping girls know their bodies and manage menstruation with dignity — whether they live in Bolga, Bongo, Tamale, or Tumu. He called it a practical, inclusive tool that combines menstrual health, climate awareness, and waste management.
The guide was developed with input from the Ghana Health Service and the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights. GAYO is encouraging its use in homes, schools, and communities and advised schools to work with the GES on appropriate implementation.
GAYO has also expanded its Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) education programme from three to nine junior high schools in Kassena Nankana West, reaching over 1,000 students. The sessions, led by trained community youth, help break the stigma and promote collective support for menstrual health.
The launch also sparked essential conversations around Ghana’s Free Sanitary Pad Initiative, the environmental harm caused by single-use pads, and the need to boost school WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities.
