KENYA: Environmentalist Cleric Advocates for Eco-friendly Sanitary Towels

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta’s reflection “It is not how much we give but how much we put into giving,” and having a clean environment for healthy living, a Catholic priest seeks to improve lives and give hope to school-going children through provision of sanitary towels and personal effects in low-income schools in Kenya’s Kisumu Archdiocese.

In an interview with AMECEA online on Wednesday July 7, Fr. Stephen Otieno Makagutu, a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.) narrates his intent to commence a campaign “Keep a Child in School” saying, “after getting stories that some girls miss going to school because of lack of protection during menses period, it touched me and I saw the need to give the little support I can to improve their lives so they can continue with their smooth learning.”

“Even though I began this initiative three years ago by providing sanitary towels in small scale, I have now opted to move to low-income schools and through contributions from friends either in monetary form or in kind, I find it a fulfilling charity work to improve the lives of others.”

According to Fr Makagutu who also serves as the Communications Coordinator for Global Catholic Climate Movement-Africa (GCCM) an organization concerned with care for creation, “reusable pads would be more appropriate to avoid littering the environment.”

“I intend to coordinate with producers of reusable pads or mensural cups since these will be cost-effective and can be used for some years,” Fr. Makagutu disclosed during the Wednesday interview adding that, “these will not be disposed anyhow in the school compound and will save the environment and keep it clean.”

Prior to involving girls in reusable pads, Fr. Makagutu OFM Cap. plans to invite producers to sensitize girls from identified schools on proper hygiene maintenance.

Appreciating the gesture shown by Fr Makagutu to school-going children where 70 girls received sanitary pads and 69 boys received undergarment, Ms. Leonora Agutu the deputy headteacher of St. Dominic Kianja Primary School in Kisumu Archdiocese observed that the pupils “felt motivated and were happy with the donations since some children from humble background find it difficult to get personal effects.”

She reiterated that the use of reusable pads is environment-friendly saying, “That is a brilliant idea and this will be very helpful to the girls since it is durable and cost effective,” Ms. Agutu said adding that “It is very necessary for the girls to be enlightened on how they are used and about hygiene.”

“Additionally these are kept safely and are not damped and disposed aimlessly so it keeps the environment clean and healthy,” she concluded