Access Bank ‘W’ sensitizes over 100,000 girls on menstrual hygiene
Over 100,000 schoolgirls in 19 districts across 5 regions of the country have received menstrual hygiene sensitization through Access Bank’s ‘W’ Initiative.
This was in partnership with selected district coordinators under the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Touching the Lives of Girls Foundation International.
The exercise, held on May 28 to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day put the spotlight on the importance of menstrual hygiene as the complete physical, mental, and social well-being of women and girls in relation to their menstrual hygiene. The schoolgirls, as part of the awareness drive, received packs of absorbent sanitary pads.
Pearl Nkrumah, Executive Director of Retail and digital Banking, said, “Our belief in women being the driving force for a healthy economy cannot be overemphasized.
This sensitization drive is important to us because the management of menstruation in a hygienic manner and with dignity is paramount. Most importantly, menstrual issues should not keep girls away from school. As a leading retail bank and as part of our women banking initiative, we make anything that concerns women and girls our concern.
“As a bank passionate about women and girls, we seek to inspire you to stand tall, connect you with mentors, opportunities and prospects and empower you to continuously contribute meaningfully to society as women and girls should. You can achieve all these if you’re informed about financial literacy which will help you make sound financial decisions like spending wisely,” Pearl said while speaking to girls at the Touching the Lives of Girls Foundation event held at Calvary Charismatic Centre Auditorium (CCC), Ayigya, Kumasi.
Some of the schools that benefitted from the initiative are St. Monica’s SHS, Yaa Asantewaa Girls, Wesley Grammar School, KNUST Basic School, and St. Charles Luwanga R/C.
Supporting this initiative falls under the Bank’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) strategy underscoring its consistent commitment towards education and health in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 4. The initiative reflects Access Bank’s continuous pursuit of excellence in social impact.
The Access Bank Women Empowerment Programme, ‘W’ initiative, under whose auspices the menstrual health awareness and pad distribution activity was organized is aimed at creating more opportunities to improve businesses and the general well-being of women and girls.
Among others, the ‘W’ initiative has created an enabling environment for women to thrive, as it is a lever to help women achieve their financial and lifestyle goals.
Launched in March 2015, the ‘W’ Initiative forms a key component of Access Bank’s financial inclusion drive which makes available to women, specialized bundled products and services to support them in their quest to grow their businesses, family well-being, and general lifestyle goals.
In continuation of its strategic intent to be a leading sustainability-focused Bank and build a healthy Africa, Access Bank continues to invest in the communities it operates, delivering superior value to customers and other stakeholders.
These investments together with its sustainability commitment to impact lives now and in the future, has earned Access Bank enviable industry awards and recognitions including the Top 50 Employer for Gender Equality, International Finance Award for Most Innovative Women Empowerment, and Most Innovative Bank for Community Engagement, all in 2023.