TOT Training: ECOWAS and WAHO Empower Liberian Girls with Menstrual Hygiene skills to Combat School Dropout.
By Raymond Enoch
In a transformative move aimed at addressing the challenges faced by adolescent girls in rural Liberia, the ECOWAS Resident Representative Office in Liberia, in collaboration with the West African Health Organization (WAHO) and Payless Bana Innovations (Payless Pads), organized a pivotal Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and menstrual hygiene.
The training the workshop took place in the counties of Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, and Bomi was held on 24th and 25th of 2025
This initiative, targeted school-going girls, teachers, health officers, and education officials, all working together to address a significant barrier to girls’ education in rural Liberia: the lack of access to affordable menstrual hygiene products.
Statistics show that adolescent girls in Liberia miss up to 50 days of school per academic year due to menstruation-related issues. Many are unable to afford or access sanitary pads, leading to increased absenteeism and, for some, a higher risk of dropping out. This initiative aims to alleviate this burden by teaching young girls how to make their own reusable sanitary pads, allowing them to continue their education uninterrupted.
The four-day workshop, under the theme “Closing the Gap in Sexual Reproductive Health and Promoting Healthy Menstrual Hygiene Practices,” offered valuable skills to girls, empowering them to become advocates for menstrual health within their communities. With the inclusion of District Education Officers, District Health Officers, and Ministry of Gender representatives, the program garnered strong support and encouragement from local authorities.
H.E. Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative, highlighted the importance of simple yet effective interventions that can significantly improve the lives of young girls. “Empowering girls through initiatives like this not only helps them stay in school but also enables them to fulfill their potential as future leaders and contributors to society,” Nkrumah said. She also emphasized the environmental benefits of reusable pads, as opposed to traditional sanitary pads, which contribute to the growing waste problem, thereby addressing both public health and ecological concerns.
Following the success of the workshop, the second phase of the initiative will see the distribution of 6,000 reusable sanitary pads in March 2025, further ensuring that young girls are equipped to maintain their education without interruption.
This groundbreaking partnership between ECOWAS, WAHO, and Payless Bana Innovations demonstrates a critical step towards improving menstrual hygiene and education for girls across Liberia, fostering a brighter and more sustainable future for all.
