No girl should lose her confidence because of monthly period

Menstruation is not a despicable word but for pupils at Patmos School in Mathare and ACK Madeleine School in Bungoma, the word “Menstruation” is only spoken of in hushed whispers. Students in both schools receive sanitary towels monthly from Yatima Outreach Organization. This is an organization that ministers to the need of orphans and vulnerable children by working a long side national ministries and partners with churches and school like Patmos School and ACK Madeleine in Bungoma.

According to A report made by UNICEF in 2007, a girl in primary school between grades 6 and 8 (3 years) in an informal setting such as Mathare, loses approximately 18 weeks out of 108 school weeks. This is the same for a girl in high school (4 years) who also loses 156 learning days which is equivalent to almost 24 weeks out of 144 weeks of school. Because of poverty most use pieces of dirty rugs, cotton wool, leaves and paper some even wash and recycle. These practices expose them to diseases and discomfort and some of them are shy to tell their guardians what they are going through. In addition, most Parents are hesitant to talk to their children about menstrual hygiene or even buy them the necessities due to financial shortage or because they consider talking about it a taboo.

Yatima Outreach Organization begun the sanitary pads project in 2017 with an aim of distributing sanitary towels to young girls at Patmos Junior School and ACK Madeleine in Bungoma. The project also offers reproductive health education to the girls on how to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation restore their dignity and high self esteem.