I feel inspired after reading an article in Kenya’s July 2011 Salon magazine (ok ok hold your horses because it not just about hair, it also features various stories and i was drawn to it because of this particular article)
Basically about the singer Size 8 and her growing up from a low income home and how she amazingly aspired to get to where she is. I must admit its refreshing that she worked her way up through a harsh life, which is sometimes also a rareity today.
She also happened to face the issue of lacking sanitary pads, this is an exract from her interview:
“Menstruation period is supposed to be celebrated by every woman. After all, it signifies maturity, which in essence is a beautiful thing. I dreaded the week that my periods came because I could not afford sanitary towels. It was okay when I was in school because my friends used to give me pads to use. But when we were home for holidays, it was pure torture.
My protection from the embarrassing red stains was a piece of blanket folded into a thick pad, covered with a thin layer of cotton wool. I could change the cotton wool but not the blanket. It was only at night that I could wash that piece of blanket and wear a clean one. I studied my body and knew that every time I felt like going for a short call, then the blood would flow.
So to avoid staining my pad, I would spend a lot of time in the toilet squeezing my belly so that blood could flow out. I still do not believe that I can now afford sanitary towels for myself and even spare enough to donate.
It was against this background that I started Kasichana Kangae Initiative because I know many girls who are in my shoes. I understand their lack and I want to step in the gap for them. We donate sanitary towels to girls especially in the marginalized areas just to make their lives bearable.
But I know I have barely scratched the surface. I wish the government, instead of allocating 300 million shillings for the sanitary towel program could instead zero rate the product.
I am still wondering how this money will be allocated, and for how long it will last. I dream of a Kenya where no girl will have to hate her periods because she cannot afford sanitary towels.
This can happen if our leaders give monthly periods the attention it deserves. They have managed to supply condoms for free, hoping to curb AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. But girls will still sleep with men to afford themselves a packet of sanitary towels.
What if pads were distributed for free or were made so affordable such that the girl child does not have to worry about monthly period?”
Please read the full article here and get a feel of what i just got.
