Sanitary pads launched to keep girls in school

SanPad Products Limited chief executive Lucy Kapkirwok, Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi and Dr Njoki Fernandes during the launch of a disposable two-in-one sanitary pad, SanPad, that can be worn as a panty at the Hilton Hotel May 28, 2013. Photo/SALATON NJAU  Nation Media Group

By EVELYN SITUMA
 

 

In Summary

• The new product called Pantpad costs Sh150 compared to about Sh50 for ordinary sanitary towels.

SanPad Limited has launched a disposable two-in-one underwear targeted at girls in arid areas who are forced to miss school during their menses.

The new product called Pantpad costs Sh150 compared to about Sh50 for ordinary sanitary towels.

“We hope to bring down the cost soon,” said Lucy Kipkirwok of SanPad Limited. It is being imported from China but the company is considering the viability of producing them locally.

Nyeri MP Esther Murugi said the government should buy the two-in-one underwear for school girls in areas with water scarcity.

“There is urgent need to set up funds for it. We will continue to lobby for funds and equal distribution,” Ms Murugi who was the former Minister for Special Programmes said.

Statistics show that girls miss five to six weeks of school days annually due to menstrual related challenges.

Last year, parliament passed a legislation allowing for mandatory provision of funds towards sanitary pads projects.

The Ministry of Education had in the year to June 2012 allocated Sh240 million for the sanitary towel programme in public primary schools that benefited 443, 858 pupils.

This year, the government distributed a further 580,000 sanitary towels but 2.7 million girls aged between nine and 18 years are in need.

Although Kenya’s sanitary towels market is huge, only African Cotton Ltd manufactures make them locally.