PELA's '5-for-Flow' Campaign Educates Over 1,500 Schoolgirls on Menstrual Hygiene
In commemoration of this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Petroleum Ladies Association (PELA) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), in collaboration with the youth-focused NGO Education and Aspiration, has carried out a significant outreach initiative to promote menstrual hygiene among more than 1,500 girls across schools in the Eastern Region.
Supported by Delta Paper Mill Limited, producers of Flora Tissues, this initiative is a core component of PELA's ongoing '5-for-Flow' program. The program's fundamental aim is to empower young women through comprehensive knowledge, practical self-care techniques, and expanded opportunities.
What began earlier this year as an educational STEM visit by selected female Junior High School students from the Denkyembour District in the Eastern Region to GNPC’s premises has since evolved into a sustained campaign of support. Acknowledging the challenges many schoolgirls face due to limited menstrual hygiene education and access to sanitary products, PELA responded to their curiosity with a compassionate and impactful initiative.
PELA members conducted interactive sessions at several schools, including Takrowase Senior High School, Wenchi SHS, and St. Rose’s Girls’ School. These sessions provided vital education on menstrual hygiene, self-care, and confidence-building. The program fostered safe, stigma-free spaces where students felt empowered to engage openly, share their experiences, and receive not only essential sanitary supplies but also a renewed sense of dignity and support.
Judith Ampomah Owusu, President of PELA, underscored the campaign's critical importance: "For many of these girls, menstrual health education is a missing piece. We, therefore, stepped into their classrooms not just to distribute sanitary pads but also to foster an environment of hope, understanding, and strength. As women in a predominantly male industry, we recognize the imperative of uplifting others. Every girl deserves the opportunity to thrive without interruption."
This campaign exemplifies GNPC’s unwavering commitment to social impact, gender inclusion, and community empowerment. It directly supports national objectives focused on promoting girl-child education and reducing school dropout rates, often attributed to menstruation-related challenges.
PELA’s '5-for-Flow' campaign serves as a powerful testament to the fact that genuine empowerment begins with awareness. It further demonstrates that collective support among women generates a far-reaching positive ripple effect. This outreach unequivocally reaffirmed to the participating girls that their prospects are profoundly valued.