Support manufacture of sanitary to boost menstrual hygiene, state urged

The State has been urged to support local manufacturing of sanitary pads to address menstrual hygiene among the young women and adolescent girls.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo argued that a lot of girls and women in remote areas complain of inaccessibility and high cost of sanitary towels.

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They said local production, if supported, can solve this challenge when manufacturers are able to provide cheaper products.

The State has a budget set aside for purchasing sanitary towels that are distributed in schools across the country. Distribution is done by women representatives.

Wanga said accessibility of the commodity would be easy should local producers be supported.

“The National Assembly had approved sh500 million to be used in buying sanitary towels. Kenyans used to get it through NGAAF, ministry of Gender or Education,” Wanga said.

Speaking during the official opening of Galentine Care Sanitary Pads factory in Kaugege village in Kasgunga ward, Suba North constituency, Wanga said there is a need for the government to focus on local production so that Kenyans can use what is affordable.

The proprietor of the factory Peter McOkodida was present.

Wanga said Homa Bay is among the counties in Kenya with a high record of teenage pregnancies due to shortage of sanitary pads.

“When a girl misses school because of lack of sanitary pads, she becomes vulnerable to teenage pregnancy. When pregnancy comes early, her chances of securing education, getting employment and shaping her future are reduced,” the governor said.

Wanga said the state needs to support local manufacturing industries like Galentine Care Sanitary to produce pads.

“Instead of taking the Sh500 million to foreign countries to buy pads, we should buy what is produced locally,” she added.

Odhiambo echoed the remarks and said leaders should also focus on supporting local manufacturing. She said the factory responds to the need of having affordable pads for all.

She explained that menstrual hygiene is something that a lot of people do not understand with some women and girls having painful menses.

“Many adolescent girls and young women in remote areas face problems during menses. Women should access with ease to address menstrual hygiene,” Odhiambo said.

The lawmaker said Kenyans should know that there are women who face challenges during their menses.

The MP sponsored a bill in parliament called Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Bill 2022, a landmark law creating the nation’s first legal framework for services like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and surrogacy.

McOdida said he started the business when he realized that some school going children in the region still face a challenge of absenteeism.

He said women also admitted that the region is faced with period poverty where people are unable to afford sanitary towels.

“Many from this area want sanitary towels that cost less than Sh50. They also proposed for packages that can be sold by mama mboga and can be accessed at the nearest point, not necessarily from the shop,” McOkodida said.

The factory established is expected to solve some of the problems that many women in the area face.