Thursday, August 4, 2011

Plan to give sanitary towels to schoolgirls gets backing


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Posted  Wednesday, August 3  2011 at  21:13
IN SUMMARY
  • New department will raise funds and ensure they reach learners
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A new department will be established to source and distribute sanitary towels to schoolgirls.
MPs on Wednesday approved a motion by Rarienda MP Nicholas Gumbo for a special unit to fundraise for and supply the towels.
Mr Gumbo said many girls miss at least four to five days of school every month due to lack of sanitary pads.
But a majority of women MPs skipped the morning session, prompting Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu to accuse them of robbing girls of an opportunity to learn from their experiences.
Women’s problem
Public Health minister Beth Mugo defended the MPs, saying the issue was not just a women’s problem.
The government allocated Sh301 million for sanitary towels in this year’s Budget but Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny said Sh1.3 billion more was needed.
Supporting the motion, ODM nominated MP Rachael Shebesh said about 2.7 million girls aged between 9 and 18 used pieces of old blankets, mattresses and rags as sanitary towels.
She said the towels should be distributed together with panties.
“You can give out all the sanitary towels you want but if you don’t give panties you are losing the war because many girls cannot afford them,” she said.
Seconding the motion, Garsen MP Danson Mungatana said remote areas were most affected.
“It is not enough to reduce taxes. Parliament wants the government to do more, particularly the distribution part of it especially in far-flung areas,” he said.
Lari MP David Njuguna said the proposal was worth giving a try. He said distribution must be mandatory, particularly for needy families.
Water and Irrigation minister Charity Ngilu said the towels should be delivered together with books.
Gichugu’s Martha Karua said the supply of sanitary towels was an important component of the free education programme that had been forgotten.
Reports by Caroline Wafula and john Ngirachu

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