Milka Hadida, a 32-year-old nurse, was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal for her heroic efforts to end menstrual shame in Tana River, Kenya.
Hadida rides her bicycle distributing sanitary pads to underprivileged school-going girls and young mothers.
The award which is given by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve and is awarded to nurses or nursing aides for exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled or to civilian victims of a conflict or disaster.
The award also recognises exemplary services or a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education.
Hadida was nominated for the award by The Kenya Red Cross Society.
After undergoing menstrual shame at a tender age, Hadida stated that she was inspired to collect and distribute sanitary pads from well-wishers.
She is among 25 outstanding nurses and nursing aids from 18 countries who received the award.
Besides distribution of sanitary towels, Hadida also educates young girls on reproductive health in the county.
Politicians and personalities often come to the rescue of the vulnerable girls by providing sanitary towels.
Recently, former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and his team donated 32,000 pieces of sanitary pads and 14,000 pieces of infant pampers to a section of vulnerable girls in Kwale County.
"Since I have sufficient stocks in our stores, yesterday (Sunday, May 2) I dispatched 32,000 pieces of sanitary pads and 14,000 pieces of infant pampers to my Kwale office for onward distribution to Kinango area with the help of local leadership through the office of Kinango MP Benjamin Tayari,” Sonko stated.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 2016 reports estimated that 1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa is absent from school during their menstrual cycle.
The data is also reflected in fsg.org which notes about 65% of women and girls are unable to afford sanitary pads in Kenya.
