By Norah Musega
More than 300 adolescent girls have benefited from a programme by the Inua Elimu Kopala initiative during the world menstrual hygiene celebration held at Kopala mixed secondary school.
The team which consists of locals with an agenda of uplifting education standard and other development projects in the region as a way of giving back to the society, came up with the idea of donating sanitary towels, soaps, pants, neck ties and petroleum jelly to the students as a way of enhancing hygiene.
The first group of girls from Kopala primary and secondary schools got four pants, twelve sanitary towels, a bar of soap and petroleum jelly, each while the remaining 200 girls from Odendo and Karungu secondary schools received sanitary towels through their school administrations.
Rose Akinyi noted they came up with the initiative to help ensure the girls stay in school without being affected by challenges faced by adolescent girls during menstruation.
“Most girls from Nyatike sub county are affected academically due to the menses which in return affect their academic performance. We want our girls to be able to utilise maximum time in school without any interference. We also want the boys to be able to maintain their hygiene in school thus we have donated a neck tie, bar of soap and petroleum jelly to each male student,” said Akinyi.
Speaking during the event, Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Kanyasa ward Hon. Jacky Paul noted that Migori county assembly through gender office and department of education has fasttracked a policy that will address the challenges affecting girls’ menstrual hygiene among other challenges.
The MCA said by coming up with such a bill it will help in ensuring all girls from class 5 receive sanitary pads every term as well as address other challenges of defilement cases, early pregnancies among others.
“I’m optimistic that the bill will be beneficial to the girls in enhancing their learning activities without any hitches if put into law. I appeal to parents and other stakeholders to come out and support such a noble initiative,” said Paul.
Meanwhile, some of the learners who attended the function applauded the organizers of the event after they received various items for their menstrual cycle among other assistance which they said will also enhance their learning activities in class.
“We have visited several schools within Nyatike among them Luanda, Bondo Kosiemo, Nyasoko and God Keyo schools through an initiative by the county government to donate sanitary towels to all girls within the county as we celebrate the day,” added Paul.
The girls were also encouraged to embrace every adolescent change they are experiencing in their life and to remain focused on education.
