State to supply sanitary towels to 45,000 school girls in Embu



More than 45,000 school going girls in Embu County will benefit from regular supply of sanitary towels, to ensure their menses do not affect their attendance to school.
Standard Six to Form Four girls in the target school will receive four packets of the pads, which will be replenished at regular intervals for four months, with plans to extend the program.
The towels are the initiative of the Gender department and the Embu County National Government Affirmative Action Fund.
Embu Woman Representative Jane Wanjuki, Embu County Commissioner Esther Maina and County Director of Education Beatrice Mwirigi launched the project at Kirigi Secondary School on Wednesday.
Wanjuki said most of the beneficiaries hail from poor backgrounds and go through difficult times including skipping school during their monthly period as their families cannot afford the pads.
“The government is already providing free primary and day secondary education. The sanitary towels will make girls more comfortable in school during their periods. We expect an improvement in their academic performance,” said Wanjuki.
She also condemned female genital mutilation which is carried out during school holidays, saying her office in partnership with the interior ministry is vigilant to stump out the retrogressive rite.
She advised the targeted girls to flee from home and report to relevant authorities to escape the cut.
Wanjuki revealed she would soon roll out a program to address the issues facing the boy child and elevate their status.
 Principals had reported that involvement in miraa labour and drugs had cost the education of many boys.
Commissioner Maina said they have committees at sub-county, ward levels and school levels headed by administrators to ensure deserving girls benefit.
She urged parents to be counselling their adolescent children about menstruation and sexuality instead of abdicating that crucial role to others.
Maina said several cases of rape and defilements reported recently in the county were perpetrated by close relatives of the victims, while their families tried to abet it through out of court settlements.
Maina and Wanjuki said rape stripes the victim off her dignity, and sent a warning bell to perpetrators that they risk long term jail sentences as they also warned against settling the matter at home.


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