Nyamira County women representative Jerusha Momanyi has initiated distribution of sanitary towels to over 43,000 girls in Nyamira County to preserve their dignity and enhance menstrual hygiene courtesy of National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).

When officially launching disbursement of sanitary towels in Nyamira County to primary and junior secondary school girls at Kea primary school Momanyi said that most of the parents are unable to provide adequate hygiene sanitary towels for their daughters due to harsh economic times leaving them very vulnerable.

“Biological monthly menstrual cycle seasons for our girls need not to be looked down upon as it was in the past. The cycle is a natural phenomenon which prepares our girls for motherhood and our girls therefore need to be fully supported and provided the necessary hygiene kits to ensure the cycle is seamless without intimidation, body shaming, verbal abuse, or any other form of bullying,” Jerusha explained.

“I understand very well that affording sufficient sanitary towels in many of our homes is like buying a luxury and therefore out of reach for many girls. Most parents struggle balancing between buying food and sufficient sanitary towels for their daughters,” she commented.

She highlighted that the initiative of providing sanitary towels has relieved many parents of the economic struggle of ensuring that their daughters have enough sanitary towels during their menstrual cycle.

“This season when our children will be undertaking their national examination, they are under immense emotional pressure to ensure they perform well in their examination and this may affect their regular cycles. They therefore need towels which will serve them during the long sitting hours without breaks while writing their examination.  They will thereafter start a long holiday which will require them to have these sanitary towels for use to alleviate parents the economic burden of having to provide daily bread for their family and at the same time procure enough towels for their daughters,” The women representative said.

Jerusha Momanyi confirmed that all the 43,000 targeted girls in the entire county will receive enough sanitary towels which will last them till next year when they will receive others.

“Ensure you use these sanitary towels well so that you maintain your dignity and hygiene when you are going through important monthly cycles in your life which is preparing your bodies into womanhood. Report any form of abuse whether it is happening at home or in school so that early intervention is sought for to protect you and assist you access justice in-case you have been abused in any way,” she reminded the girls.

By Deborah Bochere