Kisumu County Women Representative Ruth Odinga has rolled out a countywide campaign to distribute free sanitary pads to schoolgirls in an effort to reduce absenteeism and school dropout rates associated with menstruation.
The initiative seeks to improve access to reproductive health products among learners in public primary and junior secondary schools, while promoting dignity, confidence and academic performance among girls.
Through the programme, a total of 278,452 girls from 700 schools across Kisumu County are expected to benefit from the distribution of sanitary towels.
The campaign is being implemented through support from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), which facilitates the provision and distribution of sanitary towels to public schools across the country.
Speaking during the launch of the exercise at Konditi Primary and Junior Secondary School in Nyakach Sub-County on Thursday, Odinga reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring girls remain in school and pursue their education with dignity and confidence.
“Keeping our girls in school with dignity and confidence remains one of my top priorities,” she said.
The Women Rep noted that many girls continue missing classes due to lack of access to sanitary towels, a situation that negatively affects their academic progress and self-esteem.
Odinga emphasized that the programme is intended to reduce the dropout rate among female learners by ensuring they do not miss school during their menstrual periods because of inability to afford sanitary products.
“Our girls deserve dignity and comfort so they can stay in school and chase their dreams,” she added.
During the initial phase of the programme, the office of the Woman Representative distributed 48,945 sanitary towels to 16,315 learners drawn from 288 schools in Nyakach Sub-County.
The distribution exercise has also benefited learners in Seme Sub-County, where 13,820 students from 109 primary and junior secondary schools received free sanitary pads.
Odinga said the exercise will continue progressively across all public schools in the seven constituencies of Kisumu County to ensure every eligible learner benefits from the initiative.
She stressed that ensuring no girl misses school due to lack of basic necessities requires collective responsibility from all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, community leaders and development partners.
Odinga called on leaders and organisations to continue supporting programmes that empower girls and enable them to remain focused on their education and future aspirations.
By Robert Ojwang
