Turkana Governor’s spouse, Lillian Ekamais Napotikan has issued a stern warning to men fond of preying on girls and abusing them sexually.
Speaking during the world menstrual hygiene day at Lodwar mixed primary school, Ms Ekamais alleged that she had received reports about uncles who take in their nieces in the name of sponsoring their education and ended up exploiting them sexually.
‘It is so shameful that some men have even impregnated their nieces they had taken in in the name of sponsoring their education,’ she said.
Ms Ekamais also urged fathers as parents to befriend their daughters and even take part in buying sanitary towels for them.
Female medics among them Dr. Fatuma Rajab and Rachel Lokoru also had an opportunity to talk to girls at Lodwar mixed primary school and Lodwar girls secondary school on the need for maintaining hygiene during menstrual days.
They underscored the need for girls to bath and change their undergarments during their periods.
Chief Officer for preventive and promotive health Khadra Abdi said menstruation is a normal physiological process and cautioned against stigmatisation of girls undergoing menstruation.
Abdi said it was regrettable that some girls in the county had dropped out of school due to lack of sanitary towels.
She pledged to reach out to partners and also tap into county government resources to ensure needy girls are able to have sanitary kits during their menstrual periods.
‘As women leaders led by the county first lady we have decided to support issues about women including menstruation in the whole county,’ said Abdi.
Every female pupil and student who attended the event was given sanitary pads and those who entertained the guests were given a full sanitary kit that included sanitary towels, underwear, soap, lotion, three exercise books and pens.
Abdi said Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai had demonstrated his support for women by appointing three women as county executive committee members, six chief officers and many female directors.
At the same time, Abdi expressed concern over teenage pregnancies in the county and challenged the parents to befriend their daughters to prevent them from falling prey to men who take advantage of them.
100 boxers for boys were also distributed during the event.
County public health and sanitation director Alfred Emaniman challenged men to take lead in buying their daughter sanitary towels.
‘It is ironical that men who stay for long without children become very happy when their wives inform them they have missed their menses yet they don’t want to participate in the dialogue about menstruation,’ said Emaniman.
The spouse to the governor also flagged off eight vehicles transporting sanitary towels to schools in other parts of the county.
Earlier in the day she had taken part in a tree planting exercise at Lodwar mixed primary school.
By Peter Gitonga and Ezekiel Ngasike
