- The Global Health Organisation has distributed sanitary pads to more than 500 learners at Ongeti Primary School in Homa Bay.
- Director of Operations Christine Nyaboke has said the initiative targets hygiene challenges among disadvantaged children to improve school retention.
- HIV, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence have been described as a “triple threat” which the programme aims to address.
Hundreds of schoolchildren in Homa Bay have received various personal items in an initiative to keep vulnerable learners in school and protect girls from exploitation.
The Global Health Organisation has embarked on a programme targeting girls from disadvantaged households with sanitary pads to help reduce absenteeism during menstruation. The organisation is also distributing toothpaste and toothbrushes to needy learners while supporting school sports through donations of footballs. More than 500 adolescent girls and boys at Ongeti Primary School in Kochia Ward, Rangwe Constituency, benefited from the initiative.
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Global Health Organisation Director of Operations Christine Nyaboke said the programme was designed to address hygiene challenges affecting children from poor households. “We aim to improve hygiene for both girls and boys who hail from humble backgrounds. The donations will enhance their retention in school,” Nyaboke said. She said the organisation was working with community health promoters to identify vulnerable families and provide support through its Community Health Empowerment project. “Trained community health promoters will help us deliver on the project. We want to support the community at the household level,” she said.
County Public Health Chief Officer Evelyn Ododa said providing sanitary products could also help protect vulnerable girls from sexual exploitation, warning that some individuals take advantage of girls who cannot afford sanitary pads by offering the products in exchange for sexual favours. Ododa said such exploitation could expose girls to HIV infection, teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence, describing the three challenges as a “triple threat” requiring decisive intervention if the county is to improve education outcomes. “Apart from improving hygiene, regular school attendance improves the academic performance for girls. Issues of the triple threat are also addressed,” Ododa said. She urged girls to ensure used sanitary towels are disposed of properly to minimise environmental pollution and maintain cleanliness.
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Ododa also welcomed the donation of footballs to boys’ and girls’ teams, saying sports would help learners discover and develop their talents. “The footballs help in promoting and nurturing talents for both boys and girls. We are grateful to the organisation for the support to the students,” she said. The organisation said it would continue working with community health promoters to identify households requiring support as it expands its community-based interventions.
By Kimutai Langat
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