Nandi County: Unpopular cultural practices and the stigmatisation of women’s menstrual cycles are being blamed for obstructing women’s access to a safe and healthy menstrual environment. Stakeholders highlighted these issues during the World Menstrual Day event at Tigityo Girls Secondary School.
According to Kenya News Agency, stakeholders emphasized that the community’s reluctance to openly discuss menstrual issues involving girls and women is hindering efforts to provide a clean and safe menstrual environment. Valentine Simei, Founder and CEO of ‘Fast Truck Mentors’, asserted that the entire Nandi community needs to engage in open dialogues about the menstrual cycle to devise strategies ensuring that all girls and women can access safe periods.
Simei noted that abandoning the stigma surrounding menstruation is essential for achieving a safe and clean menstrual experience for women and girls. She pointed out that some diseases affecting women are linked to inadequate access to safe menstrual practices, a situation that could be improved through community and stakeholder involvement.
‘We are asking the government and other stakeholders to continue supporting girls in school, especially those in day schools, to access sanitary pads for a friendly menstrual experience,’ Simei added.
According to Simei, over 400 girls at Tigityo Girls School received free sanitary pads thanks to ‘Fast Truck Mentors’, with support from other organizations and well-wishers. Fauzia Butit, Principal of Tigityo Girls Secondary School, expressed confidence that the provision of sanitary pads would improve hygiene and ensure girls remain in school. ‘When girls are given these pads, it will assist them to be in school all the time. We are sure that the entire period this term they will be in school with us,’ Butit confirmed.
Fast Truck Mentors is an organization focused on mentorship and empowerment within Nandi and neighboring counties. The theme of this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day is ‘A Period Friendly World’.
