Education stakeholders in Isiolo County have called for increased access to the menstrual kits in order to help end menstrual stigma in school going girls in rural areas.
Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya said menstrual should be treated as a normal body process and girls should be supported to access sanitary kits to ensure they are not lured to have sex for pads.
She said time has come to normalise conversation regarding menstruation and shun the shame that has always surrounded it.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to normalise conversation around menstrual hygiene in order to end the shame that is usually associated with it. Failure to speak about it means we view it as a shame,” said the MP.
She called on men to support their wives and daughters in accessing sanitary kits without feeling ashamed of it since it is a normal body process.
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“Anytime you go shopping bring along some pads with you. Handle them with confidence because you are not handling an illegal item. Enlighten your daughters that there is no shame in menstruation,” said Bonaya.
The MP spoke when she distributed 64,500 pieces of sanitary pads to over 8,000 girls across the county.
Parents Association Chairman Ismael Ali Galma hailed the initiative noting it will encourage young girls to continue learning without disruptions as a result of period poverty.
He called on the government to reinstate a regular supply of the items in schools in order to ensure no girl misses school due to periods.
“The government should take responsibility by ensuring pads are available in staffrooms for girls who come from poor background. This will ensure they don’t miss school because they cannot afford them,” said Galma.
By John Majau
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