The Ministry of Education is set to embark on a door-to-door exercise to ensure all school going girls get sanitary pads while at home.
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang on Thursday, August 6, directed all sub-county directors of education and headteachers to continue issuing sanitary towels to girls who needed them.
He observed that access to sanitary towels remained a critical challenge for many girls, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Due to Covid-19 pandemic, learning was suspended before the sanitary towels could be distributed and hence the supplies are still at schools and some at sub-county education office stores," Kipsang stated.
The Education PS disclosed that the distribution of sanitary pads to all public primary schools under the Ministry of Education 2019/2020 financial year programme was completed by March 31.
He further stated that the distribution should be conducted in adherence to the health protocols on the Covid-19 pandemic
Research by Menstrual Hygiene Day, a global advocacy platform for non-profit organizations and government agencies to promote menstrual health, shows that 65 percent of women and girls in Kenya are unable to afford sanitary pads.
High costs and distribution challenges limit the accessibility of disposable pads to the majority of low-income girls and women, especially in rural areas, which was cited as an inhibitor to access to the products.
At the same time, in a bid to kick start learning, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha in July revealed details of a communal learning program targeting students stuck at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new program will see classes undertaken under trees, in social halls and other community spaces with teachers on the government payroll leading lessons and is set to begin in September.
CS Magoha stated that the community learning would cater for learners from low-income backgrounds who could not access the digital learning program.
