Nyamira County Women Representative Jerusha Momanyi has launched distribution of sanitary towels to all girls in primary and junior secondary school (JSS) in the county at Tonga DEB primary school in Nyamaiya ward to promote menstrual hygiene for girls.
She pointed out on Wednesday during the launch that distribution of sanitary towels is critical in cushioning girls who come from vulnerable homes against missing school because they cannot afford these vital personal effects commodities during their monthly menstrual cycles and most importantly ensure they maintain hygiene and dignity during their critical seasons of the month.
“All teenage girls eagerly look forward to such a time when they’ll commence their menstrual cycles as a confirmation that they are prepared to be responsible women ready to take up motherhood roles in the near future after completing their studies. It therefore needs that they be supported and not be ridiculed or shamed in any way,” MP Jerusha pointed out.
“I’m advising our beautiful girls against engaging in premarital unprotected sex to avoid unwanted teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted ailments for it will automatically interfere with their education progress and ruin their projected career dreams. How you maintain your dignity during your teenage years has a direct bearing on the quality of life you will live as an adult,” the legislator counselled.
She sensitised the school fraternity and community at large against shaming girls when they accidentally stain their clothes because monthly menstruation is a normal biological occurrence to all girls and in case they miss it, they have all the reasons to worry because that is an automatic sign that all is not well.
The county director for education Joshua Kaga reminded school head teachers who had come to collect the sanitary towels that only the recommended girls should benefit from this programme and at the same time when emergencies arise and a student does not have what to use, they must immediately step in to ensure that the hygiene and dignity of our girls is not compromised.
Nyamira South Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Florence Obunga warned that the sanitary towels are not for sale and in case they are found being traded in our local kiosks our intelligence personnel will investigate to hold anyone engaging in this illegal business culpable. “This programme is for the best interest of our girls to ensure they are retained in school throughout and handle their menstrual cycles with pride and some ease,” Madan Obunga commented.
The women representative distributed a total of 146,800 packets of sanitary towels, targeting girls in primary and junior secondary schools.
Jerusha further issued cheques to registered youth groups who had applied to be financially supported to boost their businesses and earn a decent livelihood from self-employment and issued a maize milling machine to Masosa widows to enable them be engaged in generating income from milling maize to residents in their area and generate income to meet their economic needs.
She promised that she will continue supporting youth and women startup businesses so long as their group is registered and present viable business proposals in a bid to ensure our community members are empowered to be self-reliant economically to sustain their livelihood including those of their dependents.
By Deborah Bochere
