Siaya: The national government has donated more than 800,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Siaya County, National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) Siaya County Coordinator Nancy Okademi has said.

According to Kenya News Agency, the 815,614 pieces of sanitary pads will benefit over 85,000 students in public primary and junior secondary schools across all the sub-counties in Siaya. "We have 85,613 girls in Siaya County who will be receiving the sanitary pads," said Okademi during the official launch of the distribution exercise in Gem Yala and Gem Wagai sub-counties.

Addressing the occasion, Siaya Women Representative Dr. Christine Ombaka, whose office is charged with the distribution, commended the government for the initiative, stating that it was one of the strategies aimed at keeping girls in school. "One of the strategies used to keep girls in school is to give them sanitary pads. This ensures girls have confidence going to school with or without menses," she said.

Dr. Ombaka urged girls to avoid premarital sex to prevent early pregnancies that could affect their future. "So many girls who drop out of school and get married do not have successful marriages. It often breaks up," she said, adding: "Statistics show most of such marriages break up and the girls end up back with their parents with their children."

She encouraged the girls to take control of their lives and resist temptations that could lead to early pregnancies and diseases. Dr. Ombaka assured that her office would ensure the pads are distributed to all targeted schools in Ugenya, Ugunja, Gem Yala, Gem Wagai, Bondo, Rarieda, and Usigu sub-counties.

The launch was also attended by Gem Yala Deputy County Commissioner, Evans Otieno, among other officials.