Period poverty remains a persistent and under-addressed barrier to education in Sub-Saharan Africa. It refers to the lack of access to safe, affordable menstrual hygiene products, sanitation facilities, and the knowledge needed to manage menstruation with dignity. For many girls in rural and low-income communities, the onset of menstruation triggers recurring absenteeism. Without the means to manage their periods, girls often miss several school days each month. Over time, these gaps accumulate into learning losses, reduced academic performance, and in some cases, permanent withdrawal from school.
The educational impact is measurable. UNESCO estimates that menstruation-related barriers cause girls in Sub-Saharan Africa to miss between 10% and 20% of the school year. UNICEF reports similar figures and emphasises that absenteeism of this magnitude undermines both academic outcomes and girls’ confidence. When girls are absent, they fall behind in coursework, struggle during examinations, and are less likely to progress to higher education. This perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits opportunities for economic participation and leadership.
In Axim, The Haven Place Foundation has taken deliberate steps to confront this challenge as part of its After-School Programme for Form 3 students. Recognising that girls’ attendance and engagement are critical in the months leading up to the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the Foundation incorporated the monthly provision of sanitary pads to all female participants. This intervention was implemented alongside structured academic coaching in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, as well as nutritional support through meals provided three times per week.
The measured outcomes were significant. Across the four-month programme window, average attendance for female students aligned closely with male students at 94.0%. Notably, absenteeism due to menstruation, previously a recurring cause for missed classes, was greatly reduced. Girls were able to participate consistently in lessons, maintain momentum in exam preparation, and match the performance of their peers. Schools such as St. Augustinus and Life International even achieved 100% attendance in the final pre-exam month, demonstrating that targeted interventions can level the playing field.
This success underscores a key insight: Period Poverty Is Solvable. The cost of providing sanitary pads is low relative to the educational returns. By removing one barrier, a foundation or donor can unlock a student’s full participation in school activities.
Donors have multiple entry points to make a difference. Funding a dedicated sanitary materials programme for girls in rural schools like those in Axim directly addresses period poverty. Integrating this support into broader educational interventions such as after-school coaching, meals, and teacher capacity building ensures girls benefit from a complete learning environment. Donor contributions can be ring-fenced to supply sanitary pads for a full academic year, coupled with monitoring of attendance data to measure impact.
In rural Ghana and across Sub-Saharan Africa, investing in menstrual health is investing in educational empowerment, community development, and women and youth empowerment. Every pad distributed keeps a girl in class. Every school day she attends is a step towards closing the gender gap in education. The Haven Place Foundation’s work in Axim is proof that with targeted support, we can remove barriers, sustain attendance, and give the rural girl child a fair chance to learn, compete, and succeed.