Period poverty: 'My girls use rags'

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed more families into poverty denying them essential goods and services.

In Taita Taveta County, more women and girls lack access to sanitary towels compromising their menstrual health.  

School girls who used to get free sanitary pads while in school through the national sanitary pads program, no longer do since the institutions of learning were closed due to Covid-19 in March.  

They now depend on their parents to provide the sanitary products.

Those who spoke to the Nation said they are forced to prioritise on food since their source of income has been affected by the economic downturn caused by the global pandemic.

ENOUGH PACKETS

"I have three young girls who are now forced to use pieces of cloth because I cannot afford these essential items for them every month," said Ms Jeniffer Ayub, a parent at Majengo slums.

She said there was reprieve before schools were closed because the girls got supplies from the government. 

"During the last school holiday, the girls were given enough packets but this time round, they did not get anything," she said.

Recently, several organisations have started distributing menstrual hygiene supplies and ensuring safe environments especially for young girls during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The organisations have provided hygiene kits and sanitary products in rural areas and informal settlements in Voi, Wundanyi, Mwatate and Taveta. 

VULNERABLE FAMILIES

The Kenya Red Cross Society has reached more than 2,000 young girls from vulnerable families.

County coordinator Joram Oranga said they have also distributed dignity packs to the girls and sensitised them on menstrual health. 

"We will continue giving them the sanitary pads until this pandemic is over," he said. 

Fatuma Salim, a human rights activist in Taita Taveta, said the government should chip in to provide sanitary pads to the girls at home. 

She said the government has put in place several initiatives to support vulnerable families during the pandemic but has failed to take into account the menstrual health of young girls who are now at home after schools. 

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE

"The government should provide menstrual materials to the young girls to prevent them from engaging in harmful activities in exchange for the commodity," she said.

Ms Salim has been educating girls on menstrual hygiene and through her initiative, she has reached more than 170 girls in Kaloleni village in Voi. She aims to reach more in Mwatate, Taveta and Wundanyi sub counties. 

"The girls open up to me saying they beg for money from friends and in some instances, from men, to buy pads. Some men take advantage of their situation and prey on them," she said. "Next month, we will start the distribution drive in all the four sub counties," she said. 

She said the program will also include training where the girls will learn skills that will enable them earn money as they wait for schools to reopen next year.

"These skills include beading, hair and beauty among others. They will form groups where they will be trained on these skills," she said.