The lack of sanitary towels in schools is significantly hindering the educational progress of girls in Mombasa, according to activists. Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK), a locally based non-governmental organization, has highlighted the severity of this issue in several schools within Mombasa County. Bernard Ochieng, the youth coordinator for FHOK, has expressed concerns that the absence of sanitary products has led to many girls missing school due to menstrual shame and embarrassment.
Speaking at Hassan Joho Girls’ Secondary School in Mombasa earlier this week, Ochieng criticized parents for neglecting their parental responsibilities, particularly in educating their children about menstrual hygiene. He pointed out that many parents fail to engage in discussions about menstrual health, leaving their children without guidance. "Some of the youths do not have someone to talk to about menstrual hygiene. Most of them are conversant with technology, ending up being misinformed," Ochieng noted, emphasizing the need for accurate information and support.
In response to these challenges, the Kadzandani Creative Youth Group has initiated programs to assist young girls in overcoming obstacles that impede their educational pursuits. Omar Chai, the director of the group, explained that the She Initiative was established to empower girls and address issues such as gender-based violence. "Amongst other objectives, the She Initiative gives voice to the girl child in order to curb gender-based violence amongst young girls," said Omar. However, he also pointed out that a lack of support from religious leaders poses a challenge to advancing girls' education. "Most of the religious leaders find girl child education a disturbing topic likely to mislead the youth," he explained.
A resident of Kadzandani, who preferred to remain anonymous, stressed the importance of parents building strong relationships with their children to facilitate open communication. "Apart from young girls being our main target, we also aim at parents by creating awareness on the significance of building good relationships with their children," the resident stated.
In a bid to alleviate the immediate needs of the students, the youth group donated a total of 192 sanitary towels to the girls at Hassan Joho Girls’ Secondary School. This gesture aims to ensure that girls can attend school without the fear of menstrual-related stigma, thereby promoting their right to education.
