Organization to give 30,000 school girls sanitary towels for 5 years.

 Pupils of Ombeyi Primary school celebrates after being given sanitary pads by a charitable Organization known as Barbel Jennert.With them is the Organization's CEO Gabriel Amollo and other staff-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By  Dickson Odhiambo.

July 21, 2018

Organization to give 30,000 school girls sanitary towels for 5 years.

A charitable organization plans to roll out distribution of sanitary towels to 30,000 adolescent girls in Kisumu and Siaya Counties for the next five years.

The organization known as Barbel Jennert has kicked off the process.

The organization chief executive officer Gabriel Amollo says most school girls in rural areas are forced to stay away from school for a few days every month due to lack of sanitary products.

Amollo says the program strives to keep girls in school during their monthly period.

Speaking during the launch of the distribution exercise at Ombeyi primary and secondary schools in Muhoroni Sub County, Amollo said they will reach out to other donor agencies to be able to purchase and distribute the sanitary pads.

“We are targeting to mobilize resources; we are targeting 1 million people, to give us one dollar a month. One dollar a month is enough to run this project and keep two girls in school for a month,” he says.

Peter Okul, a director at the organization says their dream is to uplift the education standards of the girl child.

“It is our resolve to help girls, who are adolescents and not able to raise funds to purchase the sanitary towels,” he says.

Damanus Olang, the head teacher of Ombeyi primary school says education of girls has been interrupted many a times as they attend to their menses.

Olang says the support will go a long way in keeping the girls in classes and eventually improving their education standards.

“In a month, generally they take three to four days not coming to school because of their menses, sometimes it starts when they are in school because it surprises them,” he says.

Olang says lessons always do not stop when the girls are absent due to their periods.

Milka Adhiambo, head of guidance and counseling from Ombeyi Secondary school revealed that most girls use all sorts of materials not recommended during their menses.

Adhiambo says such materials put their health in danger noting that the donation of the pads will boost their morale while in school.

“With the pads, our girls will now even participate in games since they will not fear of leakage. This has generally helped them feel comfortable,” she says.

Ends.