Kenyan public primary schools have received 860,000 sanitary towel donations from the United States (US) under the Sanitary Towels program.

The Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS), Belio Kipsang, received the consignment at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) on Tuesday.

 Speaking at KICD, Kipsang noted that the donation will complement efforts by the Government to protect and promote the interests of the girl child's education.

Further, he said that the government adopted the program to address the absenteeism and dropouts among school girls, particularly those from rural and marginalized areas.

For her part, Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary (PS) Anne Wang'ombe said the donation affirms the aims and objectives of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, which will be marked on May 28, 2024.

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She said the marking of World Menstrual Hygiene Day aims to create awareness about menstrual hygiene and eliminate the stigma associated with the menstrual cycle.

“Menstruation is surrounded by taboos in some communities, yet it is a normal biological process.”

USAID Kenya/East Africa Education Director Christine Veverka said that menstruation becomes a barrier for many girls in Kenya, crippling their ambitions to achieve their goals.

“Girls miss school, up to 20% each month, simply due to a lack of affordable sanitary products,” she noted

 She also said that some are forced to resort to harmful practices to manage their menstruation.

The consignment received was the second donated by the US through USAID and the US Department of Defense.

The first one, made in March, saw 171,000 packets delivered to the Sanitary Towels program.