Why sanitary pads are a ‘do-or-die’ thing to girls

Hundreds of girls miss up to five days of school every month due to lack of sanitary pads. Most use risky methods to deal with the menses. It is a reminder of the case in the Bible of ‘the woman with the issue of blood’ who desperately needed a miracle to ease the bleeding as she was considered unclean.

A matter that should be a private affair has become a battle of dignity versus education. As always, shame takes the better part of the girl. According to Mr Bernard Washika, the Project Manager at Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK), most girls are missing schools in a predictable pattern. ‘This has led to less contact hours with teachers and stigmatisation within mixed schools common in the village.’

Grim picture
More than two billion women worldwide have menstruation at an average of 200 days in their lifetime. There are about 1,454,600 known menstruating girls in primary and high schools.

Humanity exists as a result of this wonderful biological act. Why then has this law of nature turned to a source of shame and broken dreams?

According to the 2006 statistics from the Girl Child Network and the Ministry of Education, 868,000 adolescent girls lose 3.5 million learning days per month. Compared to 50 per cent for boys, only 35 per cent of girls aged 16 to 20 remain in school. This is a result of menstrual problems and unplanned pregnancies.

According to Nike Foundation, the 1.6 million girls who drop out of school would expand the economy by $3.2 billion annually if they stayed on. The only way to sustain development and curb poverty is through provision of free sanitary pads to girls. This move is cheaper than trying to cater for fees for all the less fortunate kids.

World view
Internationally, 150 million children attending school could drop out before completing primary level. Out of these, 100 million are girls. This affects their ability to catch up, leading to low self-esteem and makes them vulnerable to early marriages. With diminished opportunity for a better life due to lack of education, the poverty cycle is often repeated in the next generation.

Survival methods
According to recent statistics by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), out of 12 million females aged between 12 to 49 years, only 4.2 million use sanitary towels. When driven to the edge, a human being’s will to survive emerges. Due to lack of pads, girls opt for unsanitary means to deal with their menstrual cycle.

Mr Washika says girls resort to using old rugs as sanitary towels, exposing themselves to painful sores and countless diseases. ‘This could even lead them to contracting cancers of the reproductive tract. Eventually, this problem compromises the girls’ ability to compete academically with boys in class. Finally, it could lead them to perpetually being subordinated to men leading to inequalities in life,’
he says.

Others improvise dry cow dung to impede the flow or recycle used pads from garbage bins. Unfortunately, some turn to prostitution to get money for the pads. ‘We as FHOK believe that cost effective means be used to help these young girls to access sanitary towels. We strongly recommend the use of reusable sanitary towels, which can be made locally and be affordable to communities that are very poor,’ says Washika.

The reality
It is no longer a fable that lack of sanitary pads has become a national concern. Girls, especially in rural or slum areas, seldom have access to sanitary towels due to exorbitant prices. Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently said: ‘Something that is very disturbing is the issue of girls having to stay out of school because of lack of sanitary towels. It is something that we promised we will introduce when we came to power.’ He directed the Ministry of Finance to provide money for sanitary towels to all girls attending school countrywide. Consequently, the Government set aside money for sanitary pads in this year’s national Budget. Several organisations have also come up with ways to provide school girls with free sanitary pads or at subsidised rates. Eco-Ethics, a Non Governmental Organisation, embarked on a project last year to equip girls in a primary school at the Tana Delta by teaching them how to make sanitary pads. The pads are hand-sewn using cotton and a towel. When used properly, they can be washed and reused for some years. This project also endeavoured to provide a business opportunity for women to be trained as specialised tailors.

Making a difference
How does provision of free sanitary towels impact a girl’s education? According to a study by Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in 2007, educating girls on reproductive health and providing them with sanitary pads lowered absenteeism from 4.9 days to 1.2 days per month.

Importance of educating girls
According to UNICEF, educating girls enriches their lives, their families, society and the economy. It is a significant way to battle disease and curb poverty. According to the World Bank, one key way to attain the Millennium Development Goals is by educating girls. This is one of the greatest investments any country can make. ‘Indeed, when you educate a child, you educate the whole village.’

Benefits:

• Income – According to UNICEF, a woman with basic education is likely to get a job and higher earnings. An increase in female education elevates the average level of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.37 percentage points. An extra year of education above the average increases the wages by 10 to 20 per cent.
• Productivity – Education contributes to more women in the workforce, consequently adding value to the society.
• Better yields – If women farmers got the same education as men, it would increase crop production by 22 per cent.
• HIV rates drop – Education is a major deterrent to girls contracting HIV. It grants women economic freedom; protects and teaches them the dangers of early marriages and risky sexual behaviour. According to a study done locally, a girl who stays in school is four times less prone to sexual activity than a dropout, reducing HIV rates and early pregnancies.
• Early pregnancy – According to the Center for the Study of Adolescents (CSA, 2008), in Kenya, 40 per cent illiterate girls get pregnant compared to 26 per cent with primary education and eight per cent for those of secondary or higher level.
• Heritage – According to the World Bank, a mother with some education is likely to enroll her children in school.
• Low child mortality rates – Educated women are likely to get medical care, follow up with immunisations and know about their children’s nutritional needs and hygiene. This leads to healthy and well-nourished children.
• Low maternal rates – Educated women are likely to seek antenatal care services and are more informed about health care matters. According to the World Bank, an extra year of education for 1,000 women averts two maternal deaths.
• Family planning options – One year of female education lowers fertility by 10 per cent. It allows
  women to plan their families through safe methods. This leads to fewer healthier babies and smaller families

Mr Washika concludes: ‘Providing girls with free sanitary towels will improve their livelihood. But a more sustainable option ought to be found.’

END: BL 44 / 34-35