Sanitary towels luxury to poor women, girls

Any woman or girl of reproductive age will agree that a comfortable way of managing menstrual flow is a basic necessity. This, however, is a luxury to many women in resource poor settings.

A recent study conducted by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) and the Division of Reproductive Health, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, shows that "because pads are not always available, girls and women in the slum communities are forced to use cotton wool, pieces of cloth (including socks), tissue paper, pages torn from school exercise books, and pieces of sponge torn from mattresses to manage their menstrual flow".

Israeli Ambassador to Kenya Jacob Keidar (right) looks on as Mr Vimal Vaghela, manager, Doshi Group of Companies, hands sanitary towels to a girl from a school in Viwandani. [PHOTO: COURTESY/STANDARD]