Girl Child Rights activists and educationists want the Ministry of Education to incorporate girl hygiene-related issues in the education system and budget.
They observed that education on menstrual health and hygiene should be a priority to address our girls’ needs while in school.
This comes as reports indicate that girls’ knowledge about menstruation and its related hygiene practices remains inadequate.
Speaking at Marmanet Secondary school in Laikipia County during a menstrual health education session, the women leaders also criticized primitive cultural practices that discriminate against school girls during their monthly menstruation period.
Ms. Nancy Mumbi, Executive Director of Pad a Princess Initiative, says the government through the Ministry of Education should include the provision of sanitary pads, as an item just like books and other learning materials.
She said that it was time to get a lasting solution to this problem of girls suffering shame and stigma, and that the era of girl missing classes during their menses should be halted.
This, she said, can be achieved by factoring the sanitary towels in the school’s budget.
“The sanitary pads should be provided like any other learning materials,” Mumbi said.
She also lamented traditional practices demanding girls and women remain indoors during menses, terming the practice as discriminatory and stigmatizing to the girls.
She said it was disheartening that girls from poor family backgrounds still use unhygienic materials during the menses, while many others lack knowledge about monthly periods resulting in infections, and the lessons should be included in the school curricula.
Ms. Catherine Muthoni, an educationist said communities still treat women’s menstruation as a taboo, a thing that should be discouraged.
“The girls also lack information about hygiene during their periods, the information should be part of the education system and this way, it will encourage the men to understand the women better and support them during the menstruation period,” said Muthoni.
Mrs. Teresah Wairimu, a parent concurred explaining the hardships both teachers and female students go through, especially in case of untimely periods by the students.
“It is very disturbing when the periods come when the girl is in class and she doesn’t have the sanitary towels. It is a very stigmatizing experience, “she observed.
By Antony Mwangi
