Promoting Health & Equality Issues in Kenya

Peace Winds has been actively involved in menstrual hygiene support for refugees and the host community in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Turkana County, Kenya. This initiative, which began in 2020, was driven by the strong desire of Peace Winds’ local staff to address the pressing needs in the area. Cultural practices in this region impose strict limitations on women during menstruation, including expectations that they remain seated on sand until sunset and avoid contact with family members or food. Moreover, due to the high cost and scarcity of menstrual pads, many girls and women face challenges. Some girls, unable to manage menstruation properly, are often teased and forced to miss school.

Peace Winds’ menstrual hygiene support aims to enable women to live comfortably during their menstruation, ultimately improving their quality of life. This includes training educators, hygiene promoters, and community and religious leaders, as well as developing educational materials. Awareness activities are held for both boys and girls aged ten and older, including workshops, debates, quizzes, poster contests, dance and drama performances, and sports events. Peace Winds also distributes dignity kits for both girls and boys,including essential items like disposable and reusable pads, underwear, soap, and buckets, to support safe and hygienic menstruation. Furthermore, they support local tailoring groups among refugees and host communities to produce and sell reusable pads made from antibacterial fabric.

On Saturday, April 20, Peace Winds had the opportunity to share insights into its menstrual hygiene support activities at a seminar in Japan. Co-hosted by the Japan Association for Nilo-Ethiopian Studies and Toyo University's Center for Sustainable Development Studies, the "Open Seminar on SDGs: Issues Surrounding Sanitation and Menstruation - Breaking the Silence" futured an online presentation by the head of Peace Winds' Kenya office titled "Breaking Period Silence! Menstrual Hygiene Support in Refugee Camps and Host Communities in Kenya." The presentation highlighted the involvement of both men and women, growing understanding of menstrual hygiene, and local staff’s adaptive approach to meet community needs. Approximately 80 attendees, primarily researchers, participated in the hybrid seminar. Other speakers, affiliated with Japanese universities, presented on similar issues and initiatives in Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as university students’ efforts to improve menstrual hygiene environments on Japanese campuses.

Although menstrual hygiene is a topic rarely discussed openly, the symposium generated significant interest and received feedback such as “very interesting.” Other presenters praised Peace Winds’ forward-thinking and grounded approach, making this a promising event for potential collaboration with Japanese students and educators.

WORLD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) remains a challenging subject in many communities, including those in Kakuma refugee camp, Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement and host communities in Turkana West, depicting shame and taboo.

Despite being a natural process that calls for support, menstruation continues to be stigmatized, leading to a lack of access to menstrual products, WASH infrastructure (water, soap and changing rooms), and information among school-going girls and women in the reproductive age bracket to enable them go through menstruation in dignity.
Over the last 4 years with support from JPF, UNHCR, UNICEF and UNFPA, PWJ has intensified efforts to create awareness on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), prevention of teenage pregnancy and menstrual health hygiene among adolescent girls and women in the reproductive age bracket.

As part of the efforts to increase awareness on MHH, the World Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated annually on 28th May with this year’s theme being “Together for a #Period Friendly World”. To create a period-friendly world, there is a need to come together and create a more supportive environment for menstrual hygiene management among communities. Here is the video for the world MH Day. Production was supported by FilmAid Kenya. Do not miss it!