400 pupils to get sanitary towels

Iten Friday June 9, 2023

KNA Alice Wanjiru/Jeptum Valentine

A total of 400 pupils from three primary schools in Keiyo North Sub County will benefit from menstrual hygiene education and a year supply of free sanitary towels from the Cross World Africa (CWA), a non-governmental organisation.

The organisation’s executive Director Eric Garvin said the move was part of his organisation’s initiative to empower young girls who are forced to skip school once they start their menses and cannot afford to get sanitary towels.

Speaking at Mindililwo primary school during a menstral health sensitisation workshop, the director said the organisation will supply the sanitary towels to girls in Mindililwo, Kapsio and Kamariny primary schools.

He said through the initiative, the girls will be saved from shame, stigma and losing precious school hours due to a natural biological act.

“Most girls feel embarrassed when they get their menses and cannot access sanitary pads which leads to low self-esteem in addition to missing school thus the supply of the sanitary pads will ensure that they remain in school,” he said.

Mrs Judy Ruto, a teacher from Mindililwo primary school welcomed the initiative saying most girls come from vulnerable families saying most of the times they have been relying on sanitary towels from the government to keep the girls in school.

“When the supply from the government runs out, we are forced as teachers to dip into our pockets to ensure that the girls get the towels,” she said.

A menstrual health trainer, Kemunto Hongera said they also impart the girls with menstrual education when they are still young to ensure that they are able to cope with the situation once the menses set in.

Courtesy ; K. N. A