The government has been urged to take urgent steps toward providing a safe and supportive environment for menstruating girls to ensure proper personal hygiene and promote school attendance.Sarah Nkansah Boateng, a mid­wife at Eastern Regional Hospital, made the call during this year's Men­strual Hygiene Day celebration held on Friday in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern RegionShe noted that many girls skip school during their menstrual periods due to a lack of access to sanitary products and appropriate spaces to change them.The event was held under the theme "Together for a Peri­od-Friendly World.""The basic necessities for these girls are not being provided, creat­ing a safe and enabling environment is crucial," Ms Boateng emphasised.She called on school authorities and policymakers to prioritise the construction of hygienic and private changing spaces in schools.She further appealed for a col­lective effort to address menstrual health challenges affecting girls in the community.The New Juaben North Munic­ipal Director of Health Services, Nana Yaa Konadu, also highlight­ed her office's initiatives in both school-based and community clinics to educate young girls on menstrual hygiene.She stressed the health implica­tions of poor menstrual hygiene, saying, "When girls lack access to sanitary pads and a clean environ­ment, it can negatively impact their reproductive health."Madam Konadu warned that the absence of menstrual hygiene facilities and products left some girls vulnerable to exploitation, increas­ing the risk of teenage pregnancy.The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben North, Mr Samuel Adongo, described menstruation as a natural biological process and not a taboo or burden.He expressed concern over the poor state of sanitation facilities in schools, adding "I have visited almost all public schools in the municipality, and none has a proper, standard toilet facility suitable for girls."Mr Adongo assured that the assembly would work to create an enabling environment to reduce school absenteeism related to men­struation. FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, WALEWALE