Nairobi: Over one million girls in Kenya are compelled to miss school three to four days each month due to inadequate access to safe and sustainable sanitary pads. Research from the Ministry of Health reveals that 54 percent of girls face difficulties in obtaining menstrual management products, with 65 percent lacking sustainable access to safe menstrual products.
According to Kenya News Agency, Peter Wanjala Namasaka, deputy headteacher at Iseuri Comprehensive School, has launched a Menstrual Hygiene Outreach Programme targeting over 5000 girls in Kajiado Central in anticipation of this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Namasaka emphasized that the initiative aims to restore dignity, empower girls to remain healthy, confident, and focused on their education.
As both a father and an active community member, Namasaka is determined to address the menstrual health challenges in his area. “I cannot stand by and watch our daughters suffer. This year, I am organizing a Menstrual Hygiene Outreach Program Campaign aimed at donating sanitary and Menstrual Health education towels to at least 5000 school-going girls in Kajiado Central Sub County,” Namasaka declared.
For many girls, menstruation is more than just a natural biological process; it is a source of anxiety, stigma, and absenteeism from school, leading to lost dreams due to a lack of access to sanitary towels. In an effort to normalize menstruation and foster open discussions, Namasaka asserts that menstrual hygiene is a basic human right, not a luxury.
Namasaka highlighted that period poverty leads to both health and psychological issues, causing stagnation among women and girls. “When girls are denied access to sanitary products, they are denied equal opportunities in education, growth, and self-actualization,” he noted.
Namasaka emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling period poverty and promoting menstrual hygiene education. He urged everyone to make Menstrual Hygiene Day more than just a date on the calendar by calling for financial support for logistics and publicity, including donations such as sanitary towels. He invited partners, donors, and well-wishers to join the cause of restoring dignity, supporting dreams, and empowering futures, one sanitary towel at a time. “Every pad donated is not just a product; it is a gift of dignity, a ticket to uninterrupted learning, and a tool for empowerment,” Namasaka stated.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated on May 28, serves as a platform to empower women by uniting individuals, organizations, social businesses, and the media as advocates for women and girls. This year’s theme focuses on making menstruation a normal part of life by 2030, ensuring that it doesn’t hinder anyone and allowing everyone to menstruate hygienically with pride and dignity.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 300 million women menstruate daily worldwide, while an estimated 500 million lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management. Bridging the gap in menstrual hygiene education and sensitization is crucial, as its absence leads to health risks when girls and women resort to using alternative, improvised, and less effective materials, causing immense discomfort.