Ms. Rosemond Owusu Ansah, Reproductive and Child Health Officer at Ahwerewa Health Centre in the Sekyere East District has warned adolescent girls, especially those in rural communities against using rags and other unhygienic items during their menstrual periods.

This practice, she said could lead to infections and contraction of vaginal diseases, which could become a burden in their future lives.

She has, therefore, appealed to parents to support their adolescent girls by educating them on proper menstrual hygiene and buying for them quality sanitary pads.

Ms Ansah made the call during a community fun games organised by the Sekyere East Cluster of the World Vision Ghana (WVG) for adolescent girls in six communities in the district.

The communities were Seniagya, Nkwakwanua, Ogua, Akuakrom, Awaham and Brofoyedu.

It formed part of the menstrual hygiene management project, aimed at improving school retention among adolescent girls, while encouraging them to observe proper hygiene during menstruation.

Ms Ansah commended WVG, for the project and said it had come at an opportune time since young girls needed to get accurate knowledge in keeping themselves clean during their menstrual periods.

Mrs Georgina Harriet Nyamekeh, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer of the Sekyere East Cluster of WVG said the games were to bring the girls together to have fun and educate them on proper hygiene when they had their menstrual periods.

She appealed to teachers and parents to up efforts at educating the girl child on the menstrual cycle and the need to keep themselves clean.

Madam Millicent Osei, the District School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator urged the girls to wash their hands before, during and after the usage of the menstrual pad.