Discussions about menstruation, a natural phenomenon in women, have been considered taboo for centuries in many cultures and societies around the world. Millions of girls and women suffer in silence. Girls miss school or drop out altogether to avoid teasing and ridicule because of the misinformation, shame and stigma surrounding menstruation.
Many girls experience their first period with extreme shock and alarm, knowing absolutely nothing about menstruation, others are bombarded with some superstitions and misinformation.
The phenomenon occurs in women every 28 days of the cycle for 5 days on average. A decade ago, on May 28, 2014, Menstrual hygiene day it was observed for the first time worldwide and since then it is celebrated every year on the 28th day of the 5th month of the year.
The day is dedicated to breaking taboos and raising awareness about access to menstrual products and the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM).
Because this matters
According to UNICEF, approximately 1.8 billion people around the world menstruate each month. The majority of them are young people living in the global south, particularly in Africa.
There is an urgent need to educate the general public about menstruation in general, menstrual hygiene in particular and as a necessity, supporting a menstruation friendly society.
Author of the Menstrual Hygiene Book
Rhoda Kadoa Wedamchampion of menstrual hygiene and founder of Song-Ba Empowerment Center located in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana wrote the book “No more suffering in silence: An Illustrated Guide to Menstruationto help parents, teachers, girls and women, boys and men understand the importance of menstruation, the importance of menstrual hygiene and the collective responsibility of all to provide a supportive environment for sisters and our mothers, who through no fault of their own must experience the natural onset of menstruation every 28 days.
eCampus founder and CEO, Cecil Sena Nutacor met No More Suffering in Silence author Rhoda Kadoa Wedam at Lucy Quist’s Bold New Normal conference as panelists in October 2023 in Accra, Ghana. A collaboration between eCampus and the author has begun to create an interactive digital version of the book. No More Suffering in Silence in English, French and Arabic for distribution on the eCampus app on its mobile and web platforms.
Book launch event
On Africa Day, May 25, 2024, paperback and interactive digital copies of the menstrual hygiene book. No More Suffering in Silence successfully launched in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana in preparation for its 10th anniversary World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations planned for 28 May 2024 under the theme A Period-Friendly World.
Many dignitaries were present at the book launch who pledged to promote menstrual hygiene advocacy.
Ms. Beata Akanjani, President of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in the Water and Sanitation Sector (Coniwas), in her presentation on the 2024 Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration theme that states “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”.
She highlighted the fact that in Ghana, girls miss up to 5 school days a month during menstruation due to inadequate washing facilities, lack of hygiene products and feelings of discomfort, e.g. cramps (Sanitary Pad Interventions for Girls’ Education in Ghana, 2012) . This translates into about 15 school days per term and 45 per academic year, enough to cause exam failure, further disadvantage girls and perpetuate gender inequality.
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Hon. Sanatu Nantogma, the Executive Director of the Tuma Kavi Development Association, gave the opening speech for the official launch of the book along with other dignitaries. In addition, he cited a study by UNESCO (2011), saying that it was found that each additional year of schooling a woman receives reduces the chance of infant mortality by 5 to 10 percent.
This statistic highlights the far-reaching impact of education on the health and well-being of society. By providing girls with the necessary resources (including the relevant information contained in Rhoda’s No More Suffering in Silence) to manage their periods and thus make it easier for them to stay in school, we not only improve their lives but also contribute to wider health and well-being of our communities.
The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service was represented by Mrs. Linda Amoah, the Northern Region Girls Children Coordinator. She said that there has always been misinformation about menstruation and it is often considered a taboo in some communities which has had some negative impact on girls.
She also cited the absence of structures in schools to help girls cope with menstruation. The launch of the book is timely and will help girls deal with menstruation issues while also serving as a guide for teachers and parents.
UNICEF Tamale Head of Mission. Banu Pathak delivered his message of solidarity with a speech. He stated that UNICEF focuses on sanitation and hygiene as a global concern. Menstrual hygiene has been endorsed by UNICEF’s Board of Directors as a key program in which they work to improve access to menstrual hygiene supplies. He promised that UNICEF would support the dissemination of books in Ghana.
The Sabta-Naa of Dagbon gave their message of solidarity as well as various Development Partners such as World Vision, Afram Plains Development Agency, Catholic Relief Services and Adamfo Ghana. The people who shared and their messages of solidarity were Sussane Bellinghausen (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Song-Ba Empowerment Center), Lucy QuistFounding member of the Executive Women Network, Janet Sunkwa-MillExecutive Chair of the Executive Women’s Network, and Kevin Brosnahan from the US Embassy, ​​Ghana.
To make the book widely accessible to young girls and boys, 10,000 copies of the paperback book will be distributed to schools across Ghana in the first phase this year.
Available digitally on eCampus
The interactive digital version of the book is available worldwide online through the eCampus mobile and web applications. Use these four (4) basic steps below to access the book on eCampus.
Step 1. Visit the eCampus website at to download the eCampus app.
Step 2. Sign up and search for No More Suffering in Silence.
Step 3. Tap or click Classes to access the book.
Step 4. Tap or click on Course to start interacting with the book chapters.
The more you interact with the book by reading, answering questions, and participating in discussions about chapters in the book, the more points you earn. Your points can earn you memberships to other courses and classes on the eCampus app, including but not limited to Middle and High School courses, Nursing and Midwifery licensing courses, and Employability Assessment programs for college students and graduates seeking employment.
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