So Energy Ghana, a downstream petroleum company of Sahara Group held its inaugural sanitary hygiene awareness campaign, “M.A.D Flow 2024” with young girls of Reverend Ernest Bruce Memorial Methodist School and Abundant Grace Academy, in Accra, Ghana.
M.A.D Flow is an initiative of So Energy to create awareness among young girls in Ghana about their monthly sanitary care and reproductive health.
The campaign is part of So Energy’s commitment to promoting Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) targeted at the attainment of healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages.
Ms. Faustina Boamah, a professional health worker from the Ghana Health Service, along with So Energy employees, arrived the venue of the campaign with the M.A.D Flow Sanitary Care Kit to make a difference in the lives of the students at the beneficiary schools with practical conversations and guidance on girls’ sanitary hygiene.
Head, Sahara Downstream, Ghana, Yaa Serwa Alifo, said the activity reinforced the commitment of Sahara Group to bringing energy to life responsibly through sustainable social impact interventions.
“We are delighted at the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young girls in Ghana through the So Energy M.A.D Flow campaign. We believe such engagements will help girls take charge of their sanitary hygiene, whilst also enlisting the support of boys and men,” Alifo said.
Beginning with the genesis of adolescence and ovulation through the exodus of monthly blood flow, Ms. Boamah educated the students on the significance of proper menstrual and basic hygiene.
These include bathing at least twice a day during the menstruation period; changing sanitary pads at least every five hours; using cotton fabric underwear which is a more breathable option; as well as practicing proper hand wash especially before and after changing sanitary pads.
During an interactive session, Ms. Boamah also cleared misconceptions about menstrual flow, while advising young boys to desist from ridiculing girls who stain themselves or experience discomfort during such times.
At the end of the presentations, each of the participating girls was presented with the M.A.D Flow Sanitary Care Kits containing two packs of sanitary pads, a pocket-sized hand sanitizer, a pack of pocket tissue and an educational brochure on menstruation.
The kit also featured a word search puzzle and a business profile of Sahara Group, a leading energy conglomerate with operations across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
“Many girls do not have a complete and accurate understanding of menstruation as a normal biological process. Educating girls before their first period — and, importantly, boys — on menstruation, builds their confidence, contributes to social solidarity, and encourages healthy habits,” Ms. Faustina Boamah said.
Beyond providing exceptional fuelling solutions, as a foremost retail station brand in Ghana that ensures seamless, convenient, transparent and reliable flow of top-quality petroleum products, Boamah said So Energy was committed to social impact interventions in Ghana, working in collaboration with the Sahara Group Foundation
