Tharaka Nithi Woman Representative Susan Ngugi has initiated the Free Sanitary Towels Program in the county to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene in line with the government’s agenda of menstrual equity for all girls.
The event held at the County Commissioner’s office at Kathwana in Igambang’ombe Sub-County, the legislator said the transfer of the sanitary towels procurement program from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Gender was a boost towards the creation of a period friendly environment for school going girls, and thanked President William Ruto for championing the way and making menstrual hygiene a key priority under his government.
“This is a project that was still under the Ministry of Education when we came into office. We lobbied and pushed for it to be transferred to the Ministry of Gender. Every primary school girl will receive eight packets of sanitary pads each with eight towels”, she said.
Sh876 million has been spent by the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action to distribute sanitary towels to over two million girls in public primary, junior and special schools countrywide.
The Woman Representative noted that the county had received an allocation of 191,288 sanitary towels for distribution.
Igambang’ombe Sub-County, with a total of 69 schools and 2,830 girls received 22,640 sanitary pads, Muthambi with 90 schools and 3,534 girls received 28,272 pads, Tharaka South with 64 schools and 3,153 girls received 25,224 pads, Tharaka North which has 62 schools and 3,533 girls received 28,264 pads, Maara with 62 schools and 4,355 girls received 34,840, Chuka with a total of 84 schools and 4,126 girls received 33,008 pads while Chiakariga that has a total of 48 schools and 2,380 girls received 19,040 pads.
Ngugi reiterated that they were pushing for more funds, to include in the program secondary school girls and the less fortunate women in the community.
“We are pushing for more funds to cater for secondary school girls, young mothers, and street families to be included. We shall work together with all government sectors to ensure we protect these girls and take care of them even as we support the government’s agenda of combating period poverty,” she said.
County Commissioner David Gitonga said lack of enough menstrual hygiene products has over the years led to disruptions in the normal school learning when girls are forced to skip school, pledging support to ensure every school going girl gets access to the distributed menstrual kits.
He also noted that period poverty was a major cause of transactional sex for pads, leading to a high number of teenage pregnancies.
“We are happy that Women Representatives through the Ministry of Gender are actualizing their promise that school going girls will be able to get free sanitary pads. Every financial year, we assure you that we will give the necessary support to ensure every girl can access the sanitary pads”, he said.
Igambang’ombe Sub-County Director of Education Daniel Waringa and the Gender Officer Mary Mugambi both stated in their remarks that the menstrual hygiene program would help minimize absenteeism and school dropouts.
By David Mutwiri and Blaise Gitonga
