By Elsharon Ngobiro
Every month, women around the world experience the natural physiological process of menstruation. This is important for female reproductive health, though, for many young girls and women, it is also plagued by various challenges like inadequate dignity packs, the lack of sanitation facilities especially in learning institutions, and widespread stigma. It is important to understand various factors that lead to these challenges and how to curb them during this time.
About 65%of women and girls in Kenya cannot afford sanitary pads, which are crucial and a basic necessity in maintaining hygiene and prevention of infection. Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to infections like urinary tract infections and reproductive infections, which may become septic. Once a person is a victim of these infections, they are likely to experience discomfort, shame, and depression which will alter their concentration and productivity. Menstrual irregularities also occur in an estimated 14% to 25%of women of childbearing age. This can occur in cases of heavy bleeding, severe cramps, dysmenorrhea, irregular periods, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and cysts.
National and global health policies should prioritize the education and promotion of menstrual health hygiene because it is a fundamental human right. The Menstrual Hygiene Management Policy 2019-2030 should be enforced to ensure that all women and girls in Kenya can manage menstrual matters hygienically, freely, with dignity without stigma or taboos, and with access to the right information on menstrual hygiene management, menstrual products services, and facilities.
Fostering dialogues with young people and women in all social institutions, schools, universities, and youth forums can help create awareness about the importance of maintaining good menstrual health. Especially for comprehensive schools and senior schools, the Ministry of Education can partner with the Ministry of Health to sensitize the learners on issues around menstrual health. This will be a remedy for various challenges that school girls face when menstruating and will work towards the provision of factual information to break the myths, taboos, beliefs, and misconceptions about menstruation.
Community dialogues will help sensitize parents and other influential people like the village elders, church leaders, CHAs, CHPs, and the Chiefs to help bridge the gap and talk freely and menstrual health and hygiene.
Elsharon Ngobiro is a NAYA Youth Advocate
