The US government has donated 85,000 packets of sanitary towels to the government Sanitary Towels programme in public primary schools in Kenya.
The Principal Secretary (PS) for Basic Education Belio Kipsang thanked the Embassy of the US in Nairobi, USAID, the US Department of Defence and the people of USA for partnering in supplying the pads to school girls.
Dr Kipsang received the consignment at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) on Tuesday.
The principal secretary noted that this was the second consignment further to the first consignment of 171,000 packets from the US Government, through USAID and US Department of Defense in March.
Dr Kipsang said the donations will complement the effort of the Government of Kenya to protect and promote the interests of girl child education.
He said the government adopted the programme to address absenteeism and dropout among school girls, particularly those from rural and marginalized areas.
The State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe said the day of the donation affirms the aims and objectives of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
She said the marking of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day aims at breaking the silence around the menstrual cycle, creating awareness about menstrual hygiene, and eliminating the stigma associated with the menstrual cycle.
“Menstruation is surrounded by taboos in some communities, yet it is a normal biological process,” Ms Wang’ombe observed.
Director Education and Youth Office USAID Kenya and East Africa Christine Veverka said that for many girls in Kenya, menstruation becomes a barrier to achieving their dreams.
“Girls miss school, up to 20% each month, simply due to lack of affordable sanitary products,” she noted, saying some dropped out altogether, and sadly, others are forced to resort to harmful practices to manage their menstruation.
She said that the United States Government was determined to help change this reality through its broader efforts.
Major Nicholas Hally of the US Department of Defence noted that education is a powerful tool for change.
“By supporting these young girls, we invest in a brighter, more equitable future,” he added.
Present during the occasion included the Chief Executive Officer of KICD, Prof. Charles Ong’ondo, and the Director for Primary Education, Mr Stephen Barongo.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
