By John Majau
Scotland donors in partnership with their Kenyan counterparts have donated renewable sanitary towels to over 600 primary school girls in Meru County in a bid to ensure that they don’t drop or skip classes due to lack of sanitary pads.
The Soroptimist International 1st president of Scotland Sheila MC Luckie , the Kenyan Soroptimist International President Jane Murithi and the programme director Margerret Ikiara all said the project was started three years ago after the organisation discovered that many girls in primary school level are dropping out of school or skipping classes due to lack of sanitary pads.
They said if the trend is not contained by donating the sanitary pads to the affected girls risk dropping out of school noting that it will lead to poor academic and living standards, early marriage to the disillusioned girls, immorality, marriage breakdown and crime among other vices in the community.
“We prefer to give the girls renewable towels because they can be used again after washing. They are also very affordable and we are optimistic that the gesture will assist greatly in eradicating school dropout rate among girls from the poor background.
“Priority has been given to the remote areas. So far over 600 girls in eight primary schools have benefitted from the ambitious initiative which has cost Sh200, 000 with Tigania region being the biggest beneficiary,” said Ms Murithi.
