Ministry rolls out project to give girls sanitary pads
What you need to know:
- Money to be sent to schools in low income districts for purchase of towels next term
Schoolgirls will begin receiving free sanitary pads next term.
Education secretary George Godia said schools would be given money to buy the towels when students return for the third term.
The money will be disbursed simultaneously with the free learning cash.
Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta set aside Sh300 million in this financial year for that sanitary pads. Schools from resource-poor areas would be given priority, he said.
“We know the areas that are most affected, where most girls end up missing school for up to five days a month when they are experiencing menstruation,” Prof Godia said.
The ministry does not allow procurement of goods at the headquarters. Jogoo House only develops guidelines used by schools to buy items. The system has been used in implementing the free learning programmes in primary and secondary schools.
Prof Godia said the scheme would be modelled on the school feeding programme that targets areas worst hit by drought.
But he warned the money may not be enough.
Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny has said Sh1.3 billion more was needed to roll out the programme nationally.
An estimated 2.7 million girls aged between nine and 18 years need sanitary towels.
Last week Parliament approved a motion seeking the establishment of a department to source and distribute sanitary towels to schoolgirls.
“You can give out all the sanitary towels you want but if you don’t give panties you are losing the war because many girls cannot afford them,” said nominated MP Rachel Shebesh.
