In Kenya, too many girls miss atleast 3 days of school on average every month due to lack of products or knowledge on how to manage their menstruation period. Menstrual Hygiene Management continues to be a major issue persisting across Kenya mainly for the low income women and girls. Women and girls in rural areas are especially disadvantaged for lack of access to hygiene products on the market.
As an Initiative to support young teenage girls in the rural centers, Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya introduced ‘The Reusable Sanitary Pads’ scheme to assist them with supplies to help them during their menstruation thus enabling them step forward with their potential and breaking the taboo.
Training
With an aim to make our own pads BMM Kenya organized a training on how to stitch sanitary pads which was conducted by Joyce Ndunge on 10th February 2021 at Magongo. The tailoring instructors from four of our Centers were trained to ensure they could head the Stitching process. A total of 2571 pads were stitched.
The Product
Packing:
Once the stitching process was done, pads were brought to the office and were thoroughly checked and verified by the supervising team to ensure that they were as per the standard required. White Ziploc bags and stickers were designed to ensure the kits were well packed.
Each kit consisted of: 2 pants, 3 Reusable Sanitary pads, bar soap and a period tracker sheet. A total of 857 kits were packed by the female staff in the office.
Distribution: After completion of packing, a total of 729 kits were sent to 15 BMM Kenya Centers, and remainders of 128 Kits were distributed in nearby independent Centers.
The Market value of the kit is Kshs 600/- however the Mission distributed each kit at 100/- to cater for the labor charge for stitching.
Beneficiaries are grateful to the donors for supporting this project which will have a positive impact in their lives as they can now step forward confidently and lead a hygienic and healthy way of life.
The Mission appreciates the generous support and assistance received from Shaheenbai Pardhan, Inayat Daya & Family and Sakina Virjee & Family towards this project and looks forward to your continued support in our future activities.
The Mission also thanks all those involved in the preparation and delivery of the program.
Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya
P.O Box 82508 -80100
Tel: +254 222 9641
Email: admin@kenbilal.org
Web: www.kenbilal.org
Prepared by: Faraah Sumar
August 2021.