Candid talk in Nakuru as World marks Menstrual Hygiene Day

Menstrual Hygiene Management is a Collective responsibility.

Lobby groups argue that stakeholders in the society should join hands in ensuring women and girls have access to sanitary pads.

Learners in a dance during the event at Madaraka Primary School in Free Area Nakuru.PHOTO/COURTESY.

This was the message during this year’s event to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Management Day, an event held at Madaraka Primary in Nakuru East Ward organized by Haven of Dreams in partnership with Echo Network Africa.

The girls were taken through a talk on menstrual Hygiene Management by Nakuru East Sub county Public Health Officer Monica Muthoni.

She said the conversations on menstrual Hygiene Management should be inclusive, adding that gone are the days when it was a taboo to discuss about the same.

The officer encouraged teachers to also have candid discussion with the girls in schools to ensure they understand the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Management.

“We all have a role in ensuring our girls and women of reproductive age maintain high standards of hygiene which is good for their health during the menstrual cycle,” she stated.

An ongoing talk session during World Menstrual Hygiene Management Day.PHOTO/COURTESY.

Sentiments echoed by Headteacher Madaraka Primary Serah Chiuri.

However, the issue of several girls unable to access sanitary pads also came up during the event, with stakeholders calling on government to work with stakeholders in ensuring all girls can access sanitary pads during the Menstrual times.

It is for this reason that Haven of Dreams in partnership with Echo Network Africa donated sanitary pads to 250 girls from both schools(Madaraka and Lions Hill Primary School).

Valary Libese demonstrates a point to girls at Madaraka Primary School in Nakuru East Ward as the World Marked Menstrual Hygiene Management Day.PHOTO/COURTESY.

Speaking during the event, Valary Libese from Haven of Dreams led the girls through a talk on menstrual Hygiene as well as mental health with calls on society to destigmatize menstruation.

“We need to destigmatize menstruation and ensure our girls are safe and in school,” she said.

She added that the boy child has a role to be part of the conversations in line with 2024 theme on together for a period-friendly world.

Pupils from Lions Hill Primary led by Deputy Headteacher Millicent Maina, also participated in the event.