ECOWAS Launches Menstrual Hygiene Project to Empower Girls in Togo
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a new initiative in Togo aimed at raising awareness among young people on personal and menstrual hygiene. The pilot project, financed by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), seeks to tackle menstrual poverty while promoting education, dignity, and environmental sustainability.
The official launch took place at the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) Dome in Lomé, under the chairmanship of Professor Kossiwa Zinsou-Klassou, Minister of Social Action, Solidarity, and the Promotion of Women. The ceremony brought together ECOWAS officials, government representatives, international partners, and youth beneficiaries.
The one-year project will train and equip 100 young seamstresses to produce 5,000 reusable sanitary pad kits, which will be distributed across 12 schools in the Maritime, Kara, and Plateaux regions.
ECOWAS Resident Representative in Togo, H.E. Barros Bacar Banjai, highlighted the innovative and replicable nature of the program.
“This initiative not only empowers young women but also contributes to environmental protection through the promotion of reusable and eco-friendly solutions,” he said.
In her remarks, Minister Zinsou-Klassou described the project as a turning point for menstrual health management in Togo.
“This is an economic, ecological, and empowering project. It offers a concrete and sustainable response to the essential needs of young girls while promoting their education and well-being,” she noted.
By addressing menstrual health, ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting member states in advancing health, gender equality, and inclusive development, with a strong focus on women and youth.
