The initiative to enhance menstrual hygiene access in Migori has received a significant boost with the formulation of a menstrual hygiene policy by the County Government, supported by partners.
This policy aims to address challenges related to sanitary pad accessibility and proper disposal methods.
Tom Odhong, the Migori County Health Director, stressed the importance of fully implementing this policy to effectively tackle menstrual hygiene issues, which often lead to school absenteeism among girls.
The county plans to allocate a budget for purchasing sanitary pads for schoolgirls, ensuring their uninterrupted education.
Additionally, Rongo University, collaborating on menstrual hygiene matters in Migori, will produce sanitary pads for distribution to girls, with the capacity to manufacture approximately 1000 pads daily, according to Maurine Adoyo, a university lecturer.
However, challenges persist. Emily Obadia, the county director for education, highlighted the prevalence of school absenteeism among menstruating learners and noted obstacles faced by the government’s initiative to provide sanitary pads to schoolgirls, hindering access to menstrual hygiene products.
In Kenya, menstruation remains a taboo topic, masked by myths and misconceptions, especially in impoverished and culturally rooted communities.
A national survey in 2015 found that less than 50 per cent of parents discuss sex-related topics with their children, including menstruation, contributing to a lack of understanding and comfort surrounding periods, even in private settings.
Furthermore, menstrual health education is lacking in schools. Although the Kenyan government committed to scaling up comprehensive sexuality education in 2013, only two per cent of students reported learning all topics constituting a comprehensive curriculum as of 2015.
Moreover, despite efforts to train teachers in sexual education, many feel unprepared or uncomfortable addressing students’ questions on the topic.
The absence of menstrual education perpetuates a cycle of inadequate support, passed down through generations due to socio-cultural norms.
If girls do not receive menstrual education in primary school, they may not receive it at all, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive menstrual health education programs in Kenyan schools.
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