Lack of sanitary pads affecting girls’ retention in school

Enrollment and retention of girls in schools remains a key concern in arid and semi-arid areas across the country.

The low levels of enrollment and retention has also been linked to lack of sanitary towels among teenager girls from these areas as most homes cannot afford the vital necessity for menstruating teens.

In Laikipia County, high levels of drop-outs have been registered – all linked to lack of sanitary pads by school-going girls during their menstrual periods.

Addressing the press on Tuesday after distributing sanitary pads to Nyahururu DEB Primary School pupils in Laikipia County, Women Representative, Jane Apollos, said the programme to distribute the sanitary pads, which will also be replicated in other schools in the county, will promote girl-child education and improve students’ performance.

Apollos urged other stakeholders to look into ways of ensuring that girls, who are vulnerable, remain in school and are provided with such crucial items so that they can continue with their education, competing favorably with other children.

Written by Paul Barasa