The Mountain Journal
Campaigns to sustain girls in schools by offering education programmes focusing on menstrual health and hygiene has started succeeding in keeping female students in class throughtout the month.
The program implemented with the collaboration of Murang’a County Government and Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has been reported improvement in demystifying menstruation amongst school children.
AHF programmes officer Dr Eunice Karanja said the female pupils have remained in schools as their concerns pertaining to menstruation have been addressed in schools and at the family level.
Karanja spoke at Koimbi Primary School in Kahuro, sub county during the World Menstrual Health Day, where she said the organisation will supply sanitary pads to girls at Upendo Primary School for a year.
“To mark this day we have donated more than 1,000 sanitary pads that were shared by the community. There is positive impact in ending the stigma associated with girls during their menstruation period, where many used torn clothes and blankets,” said Karanja.
AHF Kenya, has contracts in 10 counties including Murang’a, Turkana, Nairobi, Kilifi among others where sanitary pads are distributed freely.
Private primary schools, she said, should be considered in the government programme on issuance of free sanitary towels as some parents are unable to provide.
Murang’a County Productive Health Programme officer Ms Caroline Macharia who said the collaboration has improved the dignity of the girls when they are in school.
“The ministry of education has a programme of distributing sanitary pads to the schools for the interest of the learners,” said Macharia.
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