Former citizen Tv prime time news still very vocal about issues in society,Janet Mbugua, has petitioned the Members of Parliament to improve on the Menstrual Health Management (MHM) Policy in Kenya to ensure all women in Kenya are receiving adequate services.
Every day, women and girls who lack the income and access to afford sanitary products face significant barriers including insufficient education about menstrual health management and inadequate access to quality, low-cost products. SignThisPetition – https://t.co/Lh0FgYQxsG pic.twitter.com/VQ8oQ0VupV
— Janet Mbugua (@OfficialJMbugua) May 23, 2019
In a statement, Mbugua said: “As we count down to Menstrual Health Management Day on Tuesday, May 28, I demand more action and progress towards improved menstrual health management (MHM) in Kenya. Every day, women and girls who lack the income and access to afford sanitary products face significant barriers including insufficient education about MHM and inadequate access to quality, low-cost products.”
Mbugua points out that the current government policy on MHM in Kenya is insufficient. In fact, the policy, which can be found in The Basic Education (Amendment) Act enacted by the Parliament of Kenya in 2017, simply reads that [the government will] “provide free, sufficient and quality sanitary towels to every girl child registered and enrolled in a public basic education institution who has reached puberty and provide a safe and environmentally sound mechanism for disposal of the sanitary towels.”
She noted: “This policy does not give much detail or information regarding how the government provides distribution and disposal of sanitary products or education on sexual reproductive health.”
“What’s more, the policy is only directed towards girls enrolled in public schools, which fails to address the unique needs of other menstruating people such as low-income women and girls who are not enrolled in public schools, the disabled, refugee populations, and women and girls in juvenile detention facilities, jails, and prisons – just to name a few,” added Mbugua.
Action on accessibility, affordability, availability of sanitary materials. Waste management and comprehensive age appropriate sex edu. inclusive of sexual reproductive health. #menstraulhygiene
— Wazi Community Based Organization (@FoundationWazi) May 24, 2019
Media personality Janet Mbugua has formerly opened up on her long battle with endometriosis that made her skip work and school days.
“Until today, if I don’t take my medication, I’ll struggle during my period. Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (i.e. usually between the ages of 15 to 49), which is approximately 176 million women in the world…Let’s talk periods and most importantly, let’s talk period pain.