A women’s group in Kikuyu has launched an initiative to distribute sanitary towels to girls from poor families.
The chairlady of Manifesto Women's Group Charity Wanjira said the group came up with the project after realising that girls, especially those from needy homes, are strained during menstruation as their parents cannot afford to get them sanitary towels.
She said lack of pads has impacted negatively on the girls’ studies. Some lack concentration at school while others are forced to miss classes altogether during such days.
Some, added the chairlady, had dropped out of school as a result of embarrassment as they are mocked by boys in schools.
She said that the group was raising funds to ensure that such girls are not affected during such times.
"As women in the region, we know the potential that our girls have but some of them fail to attain them for such reasons. We need women leaders in future and we believe such needy girls who are mostly ignored by society. We are determined to run this programme stating from Kikuyu area, and will extend it to other parts of the sub-county in due course," said Wanjira on Thursday at the Give Hope Hall.