Written by Phanice Chepkemoi 2012-07-18 12:15:00 Read 605 Times

Mt.Elgon Deputy Education Officer Mrs.Alice Sitawa receiving 686 boxes consignment of sanitary towels from the government to benefit 42 schools in Mt. Elgon. [Photo | Phanice Chepkemboi]

Forty two primary schools in Mt. Elgon District have received sanitary towels from Girl-Child Network through the ministry of education to benefit 6,859 girls.

Speaking while receiving the consignment, Mt.Elgon Deputy Education Officer Mrs. Alice Sitawa said that they have received 686 boxes of sanitary towels which have 6,859 packets that will be supplied to girls from standard four to eight in the selected schools.

Mrs.Sitawa said that it will improve attendance and retention of girls in schools because every month they lose many things which make them not to complete the syllabus as boys.

“I  encourage the teachers to have health clubs in schools so as to teach the students on life skills and on how to handle the issue of menstruation so that that they can be responsible.”Mrs.Sitawa said

Pius Chemasa a head teacher at Chemoge primary school says that most of the girls in primary schools have been dropping out of school because they shy away especially during monthly periods.”Sometimes they don’t want to sit with the boys because of the problem but now they will be comfortable in class and even participate in other curriculum activities,” said Mr.Chemasa

He reiterated that the exercise will improve performance in schools and the enrolment of the girls.

“This is a good step and we appreciate what the government is doing and urge them to continue supplying every year to enable students to perform well, ”Mr.Chemasa emphasised.

Nancy Butaki a head teacher at Kaptama primary school received thirty nine boxes of sanitary towels and she said that the school has been receiving them but it stopped last year.

“From then it has been difficult because the girls have been coming to me asking to be given the pads which sometimes made me to use my money to buy them,” Mrs.Butaki said.

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