- Teenage pregnancies has been a menace in Kilifi county. In 2016, the county recorded more than 10, 000 cases.
- Some girls depend on men to give them money for sanitary pads who in turn ask for sexual favours
Image: ELIAS YAA
Kilifi government has developed a Menstrual Health and Hygiene Policy to promote menstrual hygiene management.
The policy outlines the county’s commitment to menstrual hygiene management and ensuring that all girls and women have access to safe, affordable and effective menstrual hygiene products.
According to Deputy Governor Flora Chibule, the development of the policy is a critical step towards breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and promoting gender equality in the county.
Speaking during a sanitary towels distribution exercise as part of the celebration of the Menstrual Hygiene Day in Paziani, Chibule said menstrual hygiene awareness would help in breaking the silence surrounding menstruation.
“As the deputy governor, I am proud to announce that our county is taking significant steps to promote menstrual hygiene management and ensure that every girl and woman has access to the resources they need to manage their periods with dignity and comfort,” she said.
She further said timely distribution of menstruation products will enable young girls to stay in school even during their periods.
Chibule added that access to menstrual hygiene products is a basic human right, and made a commitment to ensuring that every girl and woman in the county has access to menstrual hygiene products.
“In addition to the MHH policy, I am pleased to report that the Kilifi county government together with our able partners has distributed over 60,000 sanitary towels to vulnerable girls in our county. This initiative is part of our efforts to eliminate period poverty and ensure that every girl has access to the resources they need to manage their periods with dignity and comfort,” she said.
She warned teachers against diverting the sanitary towels meant for students to other people.
Period poverty has been cited as one of the enables of teenage pregnancies, poor academic performance and school drop out.
Teenage pregnancies has been a menace in Kilifi county. In 2016, the county recorded more than 10, 000 cases.
Some girls depend on men to give them money for sanitary pads who in turn ask for sexual favours
Chibule said some girls miss out of school during their menses due to cramps and stigma surrounding menstruation.
“Cramps can be very painful. When these girls miss classes, it affects their performance because learning will not stop. Teachers should support our girls to manage these periods with dignity so that their education is not affected,” the deputy governor said.
Media personality, Janet Mbugua, who runs Inua Dada foundation, said some girls still use old clothes and leaves during their periods. She committed to partner with the county to distribute pads to schools.
“I started Inua Dada after reading a story on how girls suffer during their periods. We must work together to create a world where menstruation is accepted as a natural and normal part of life, and where everyone has the resources they need to manage their periods with dignity and comfort,” she said.