Lack of access to safe, sustainable sanitary products and education on menstrual health causes over one million girls in Kenya to miss three to four days of school every month.
Hence, period poverty remains a major challenge to the education of girls in low income settlements in urban and rural areas in Kenya.
Research conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2016, shows that 54 per cent of Kenyan girls’ experience challenges in accessing menstrual Management Products (MHM) with 65per percent still lacking sustainable access to safe menstrual products.
According to Boniface Gor the Chief Executive Officer Dada Digital Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organization, there is still more that the government needed to do to address period poverty in Kenya.
Speaking at Naserian Primary School in Magadi, Kajiado County during an event to mark the Menstrual Hygiene Day, Gor urged the National and County governments to ensure that they factor in the provision of free sanitary towels to girls in schools in their annual budgets.
He noted that Menstrual Health is a fundamental aspect of human rights, dignity and health thus addressing period poverty is essential.
“Many girls in Kenya miss school every month for 3 or 4 days as they cannot afford sanitary pads. It is high time the government factored in distribution of free sanitary towels to schools in the annual budget to ensure girls do not miss classes,” he said.
Kelvin Nzomo, the head teacher of Naserian Primary School reiterated that there was urgent need for a permanent solution to address period poverty among girls in school.
Nzomo said many girls were forced to skip school every month as they cannot afford menstrual hygiene products and this impacts negatively on their performance.
“It is unfortunate that girls are forced to skip classes every month as they cannot afford sanitary pads. Some even end up dropping out of school completely due to shame and stigma,” he said.
The head teacher added that in order to access sanitary towels, some girls’ resorted to transactional sex resulting in an upsurge in teenage pregnancies.
During the event, over 200 girls from four schools in Magadi ward received free sanitary towels to last them for one term courtesy of Dada Digital Initiative.
The girls were also educated on menstrual hygiene management.
The Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed annually on May 28, aims to break the stigma around menstruation and promote good menstrual health.
The day advocates for better access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation facilities, ensuring women and girls can manage their periods safely and with dignity.
By Rop Janet
