Breaking the Stigma of Menstrual Health in Kenya

Thank you for always helping us.

In the refugee zone in Turkana County, northwest Kenya, where we work, being bullied by a boy during menstruation is one of the reasons why girls stop commuting and activities during menstruation.

In this situation, we understand both boys and girls and conduct activities where children can learn and discuss changes in girls and boys unique to puberty.

These activities are also creating male students who actively speak about menstruation, such as dominic, who attend Future Primary School. Today, I would like to introduce some of the essays about the phenomena surrounding girls in schools written by Dominic.

 boys and girls debate menstrual management together

"In fact, many girls at school have difficulties in getting the sanitary napkins they need.As you know, girls have menstruation about every 28 days, but this sometimes causes girls to be unable to come to school.Because I can't protect myself because I don't have sanitary pads.The only way to keep going to school is to provide sanitary napkins to girls."

In addition, there is a water shortage problem in our area, so it is difficult for girls to wash their bodies during menstruation.They can't come to school because they ashamed that they can't wash their body even though they're menstruating.

On the other hand, boys sometimes attracted girls to sexual relationships by buying sanitary pads.So if girls have children, it leads to girls' refusal to go to school.

It is also a problem for girls that there is no place to throw away used sanitary napkins in school. Preparing a place that used sanitary napkins are necessary to allow girls to come to school.Also, some girls still quit coming to school during menstruation without using sanitary napkins according to traditional habits.

I think the problem is that failure to come to school leads to poor grades of female students.

Refugee boys who learned about menstruation (they are not Dominic)

When I asked girls about their future dreams, some said, "I want to be president," and others said, "I want to be a doctor," and it was impressive that "I love school where I study well."

However, just as Dominic has a problematic consciousness, girls have various difficulties in managing their menstruation, which could prevent them from going to school and close their future dreams.

For this reason, we not only develop the production and distribution of napkins and menstrual hygiene management made of cloth that girls can use even a few times without having to rest from school, but also support the improvement of water supply so that girls can stay healthy during menstruation.

boys and girls enjoy sports

In addition, both girls and boys are learning and discussing activities, and as part of this, Dominic, a male student, wrote an essay, and it will create a soil for boys and men to think and understand girls and women's problems as their own business.

In fact, after our activities began, boys began to say, "I want to reassure them by encouraging my sisters and talking about menstruation."

We plan to continue these activities so that girls in Kenya can have a pleasant life even during menstruation.Please continue to apply.

Links:

• the report of pwj