Samuel Kallon 
By Ragan M. Conteh
The Executive Director of Girl Child Network, Madam Anita Koroma, over the weekend on behalf of the Annie Walsh Old Girls Association (AWOGA), donated over four hundred EcoJC pads to JSS 1 pupils of the Annie Walsh Secondary school in Freetown.
Addressing pupils before the distribution of the pads, Anita Koroma informed that the (AWOGA) based in United States of America thought it wise that girls are in dire need of the menstrual pads when considering the country’s economic situation.
She said AWOGANS knew that a lot of these girls can’t afford to buy sanitary pads as such this prevent them from attending school monthly.
She took her time to teach the girls how to use the pads.
The full package of the pads include, five sanitary pads, one soap, face towel, toothbrush and a movable pack to put the pad.
The mission for the sanitary pads project in Sierra Leone according to Anita Koroma is to increase outreach to disabled girls and school going girls in under-served areas; break the silence and debunk the myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation; as well as to equip the adolescents with the necessary tools to understand and manage menstruation safely.
She went further that this is due to the challenges faced with accessibility, use and disposal of sanitary towels .
According to UNESCO, millions of girls in Sub-Sahara countries, including Sierra Leone, miss up to 20% of school because they do not have access to feminine hygiene products. Poverty and cultural stigma around menstruation are the main reasons for the difficulty of obtaining and using these products: most girls feel shame and fear during their periods, so they prefer to not go to school.
The girls expressed delight over the gesture and promised to use the pads for the intended purpose.
Just after the distribution, madam Anita Koroma took to her Facebook and said “We made it Makeni City and Freetown all went well with our new Reusable Sanitary Pads EcoJC pads made in SierraLeone (Local content). Period poverty advocacy. Thank you AWOGA- USA and Purposeful for your continued support to our girls”.
