More effort should be put in place by the government through the Ministry of Education to ensure all school girls are supplied with sanitary pads to keep the girls in school during their menstrual period.
This even as statistics indicate that many girls miss school during their menstrual period due to lack of sanitary pads hence to avert shame and stigma they decide to stay at home for the three days hence missing a lot.
The negative impact on their education is also felt as they stay at home while their male counterparts continue with their studies.
Such gap has seen several lobby groups step in with sanitary pads donation to schools more so in rural areas.
A partnership between Geneva Lake West Rotary Club, Steve and Patricia Werner, Nakuru based Soar Kenya Academy and Hope Well as well Rotary Club of Nakuru has seen many girls stay in school even when in their menstrual period.
Speaking on Monday at Gogar Primary School in Rongai sub county of Nakuru County during a similar donation to more than 300 girls from area schools, James Yegon from Rotary Club of Nakuru commended the partners for the good gesture.
He said this will go a long way in addressing the challenges that girls at grassroot have been going through due to lack of sanitary pads.
“The harsh economic times have impacted negatively on the girls as the majority of parents cannot buy the pads leading to many of them missing out on school during the menstrual period. But with the partnership, we are now sure that the girls will get a full one year pack and go on with their studies to make a better generation in future” said Yegon.
Similar sentiments echoed by Sally Kamau from HEART Foundation- an organization that is spearheading a project dubbed Freedom for Girls’ meant to empower and ensure girls are safe in schools.
She said since the commencement of the Project, over 300,000 girls have been reached and empowered fully.
Ms Sally called on society to end stigma and shame around the menstrual period but rather join in ensuring a better society where girls are empowered.
“We have been doing this as HEART Foundation to ensure our girls are in schools. As a society we need to come together and end the stigma and shame towards our girls especially when they are in their menstrual period” she said.
She also called on the government to also step in and ensure sanitary pads are supplied in schools.
The project is being implemented in various counties in the country among them Nakuru and Baringo counties.
Teachers and pupils whose schools have benefited have lauded the charity groups for their good gesture towards empowering girl child.