By Leticia Afandi

Periods are something that happens to all girls and women regardless of where you came from or your standards, yet there is a lot of embarrassment that comes with it.

Many people struggle to talk about periods stigma because, as a country, we see that as a taboo, culture or religion, and so all we do is choose to be ignorant. This is because Kenya as a country has betrayed girls and women by denying them access to this period’s products. These products have become very expensive to purchase with this tough economy.

Estimates show that 50 per cent of women and girls in Kenya still can’t afford sanitary towels, which is alarming. No access to clean towels leads to a lot of stigma and shame for the girls, and with no access to sanitary towels, girls are forced to stay at home during their menstruation to avoid shame from their fellow students.

This stigma and shame sometimes come mainly from the male counterparts. Our sexuality is very much hidden; men and boys are not involved in menstruation talks, yet they can be good allies and supporters.

In particular, young boys do not know about periods; therefore, they tend to criticise girls, like a case that happened in Bomet County, where a girl committed suicide on account of period shame by her teacher after soiling clothes.

To eradicate this period of shame, we as a society are supposed to educate boys and men about menstruation and make them know it is something normal, and it’s a sign of good health.

Let’s have conversations with one another about periods and get to learn more about them to end periods’ stigma and shame.

We shouldn’t consider it a taboo topic because it is a natural process. Men and boys need to have a clear and good knowledge of what periods are and what should be done In case it happens around them.

Also, in schools, let’s not just emphasize grades and forget what women and girls go through; it is important to have open dialogues and educate the girls on what they should do In case that happens. Parents also should stand up and educate their daughters because they are the first parents.

Also, we should demand that menstrual health be taken seriously by our healthcare givers and, personally, women and girls to take utmost self-care during cycles.

Let’s make the period’s products easily accessible to girls and women, and let’s push back against people who mistreated girls and women during their periods. Periods are power, the future of life, and periods are the start of life.

Leticia Afandi is a youth advocate, NAYA Kenya.