Ghana – Rhoda Wedam’s Mission to Educate on Menstrual Health

Rhoda Kadoa Wedam is the founder of the Song-Ba Empowerment Centre, an organization dedicated to empowering rural girls by providing sustainable menstrual hygiene training and reusable sanitary pads. These efforts help girls manage their menstrual cycles while continuing their education without interruption.

In 2018, Rhoda’s impactful work earned her the prestigious title of Overall Best Female SDGs Achiever at the Africa Youth Summit, held in Accra, Ghana. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Community Development from the University for Development Studies in Ghana.

In addition to her work with the Song-Ba Empowerment Centre, Rhoda is also an author. Her recent book, No More Suffering in Silence, was written to educate young girls about menstruation. Rhoda shared with Just4WomenAfrica that her own experiences as a young girl, where she lacked proper education about menstruation, motivated her to write this book. She wanted to ensure that young girls today have the information they need before they begin menstruating.

Rhoda emphasized that many people still hold misconceptions about menstruation, viewing it as something unclean or socially isolating. In many cultures, women are not allowed to socialize freely or share the same restroom facilities during their menstrual periods. Rhoda’s book addresses these issues by educating both men and women to change the narrative and stop viewing menstruation as something taboo or dirty.

When asked about the primary audience for her book, Rhoda explained that it is mainly targeted at young girls who are yet to experience their first menstruation, so they can be well-informed. However, she also encourages girls who are already menstruating to read the book and update their knowledge.

Rhoda hopes to reach these girls through the Ghana Education Service, as her book has been approved for use in schools. She also mentioned that organizations and institutions working in menstrual health can procure the book for the girls they support. Additionally, parents can purchase the book for their young daughters to help them get educated.

To ensure the accuracy of the information in her book, Rhoda collaborated with professionals in the health sector, who acted as resources throughout the writing process.

Despite the success of her book, Rhoda noted that funding was a significant challenge, particularly because printing costs in Ghana are high. Looking ahead, she hopes to explore topics like breast cancer and cervical cancer in future books.

For those interested in obtaining a copy of No More Suffering in Silence, it is available online through eCampus and in select bookshops.

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