Lack of the know-how to manage menstrual hygiene and the societal norms that stigmatize menstrual cycle among teenage school girls in West Pokot County was found to be number one cause of absenteeism and school dropouts.
This affects their learning as the education standard and morale for learning goes down.
It has been established that girls in pastoral areas cannot manage their periods safely or with dignity, leading to stigma.
Kapenguria Theatre Group and Pokot Girl Child Network have embarked on providing sensitization on menstrual hygiene and creating awareness about the importance of proactively managing one’s reproductive health in order to stay in school and improve options for the future.
According to the organizations, two in five girls in the County have no access to sanitary pads, leading to school dropouts now standing at 60 per cent in some sections of the county.
Through the school to school program, the organization is empowering girls and creating awareness on teen mothers’ menstrual health.
The program which fights out teenage pregnancies, integrates teenage moms back to school and a mentorship program for boys where they offer them with boxers to boost self-esteem and confidence.
Kapenguria Theatre Board Chairman Francis Soprin noted that there is a need to tackle menstruation and menstrual hygiene insecurity.
He noted that ten girls in West Pokot County fail to go to school for four days in a month meaning they miss 36 days for nine months they are supposed to be in school due to lack of sanitary towels non-governmental organizations have revealed.
He cited that the absence of suitable and affordable menstrual care products, some women and girls may resort to using unhygienic and inappropriate products such as newspaper, old rags, dried leaves, feathers or socks to manage their periods.
He noted that the program aims at helping teen mothers and fathers to prevent second pregnancy, early marriage or school drops.
“We ensure that teen mothers balance as a parent at school and looking after their babies,” he said.
Pokot Girl Child Organization Director Teresa Lokichu explained that they provide girls with sustainable and long lasting economic solutions urging parents to take back school drops and teenage mothers to continue with their education.
Speaking at Chelombai secondary school on Tuesday, Mrs Lokichu said they are also dispelling myths about the girls and women menstrual cycle adding many are finding difficulties during monthly periods.
“They opt to hide because of the flowing blood. We want to break a taboo, begin a concern that it is normal and they should not feel ashamed. It is hard for them to afford sanitary pads at their door steps because of distance.
”Pads will enable them to stay in school and boost their self-esteem. We are passionate about empowering young people on mentorship, integrating teenage mothers back to school and rehabilitation,” said Mrs Lokichu.
West Pokot women representative Rael Kasiwai noted that many teenage pregnancies within the county affect female educational attainment, as young girls who become mothers in their teen period become more likely to curtail their education.
“We want to change their lives for them to live a dignified life. We have seen cases where girls opt to hide because of the flowing blood. We want to break a taboo; begin a concern that it is normal and they should not feel ashamed,” said Mrs Kasiwai.
She said lack of resources to buy the basic commodity makes girls opt for sources, with disastrous consequences
“We shall make sure that girls go to school without frustrations to get pads and don’t compromise their bodies for pads. Many have been missing the curriculum in schools while on periods,” she said.
Monthly periods, she said, were causing many girls in the area to be absent from school hence drop out of school due to lack of sanitary towels, They encounter embarrassment of leaks, or the pain and discomfort from using rags,” said Mrs Kasiwai.
She noted that girls face practical and psychological challenges to managing menstruation.
Ms Debra Chemtai a pupil at Tegla Loruope School cited that girls need to observe hygiene during their menstrual cycle but many fail because they have no access to sanitary pads.
“It is hard for them to afford sanitary pads at their door steps because of distance. Pads will enable them to stay in school and boost their self-esteem. We are passionate about empowering young people on mentorship, integrating teenage mothers back to school and rehabilitation,” she said.
By Kipilat Kapusia
Get more stories from our website: Education News
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
