Bomet County and Procter & Gamble (P&G) have entered into a partnership to educate 45,000 mothers on maternal healthcare and provide 35,000 sanitary pads and menstrual education to keep girls in school.
The project, dubbed ‘Mother and Baby Healthcare Program’ which will educate new mothers in hospitals on issues of immunization, skin care, sleep and breast feeding.
Kenya has reported infant mortality rate of 36 maternal deaths per 1,000 people attributed to obstructed labour, infections, haemorrhage and high blood pressure. The infant mortality rate in Kenya has been reducing over the years attributed to better access to health care as well as access to information on vaccinations.
Many underprivileged girls especially from slums and rural areas use unhygienic alternatives during their menses. These girls use newspapers, leaves, and even have ‘sex for pads’ putting them at a high risk of infections and even unwanted pregnancies.
It is estimated that about 25% of their school time in a year is lost due to lack of sanitary towels.