KAKAMEGA FIRST LADY CALLS FOR AN END TO TEEN PREGNANCIES

Kakamega First Lady H.E Prof. Janet Kassily Barasa on Monday opened the County Gender Sector Working Group Meeting at Golf Hotel Kakamega where she emphasized that alot of effort has to be put in from all stakeholders to curb the prevalence of teen pregnancies which currently stands at 25 percent.

In her address to the participants drawn from various sectors, the First Lady implored all stakeholders to work closely together to ensure the matter is addressed. According to statistics by the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) teenage pregnancies in Kakamega County stood at 12,057 in 2022.

On menstrual hygiene management, Prof. Kassily noted that whereas the national government has a programme to disburse sanitary pads, not all girls benefit from the programme. She expressed hope that the Sanitary Provision Bill fronted by Hon. Gloria Orwoba will be presented and ratified by Parliament.

If passed, this Bill will guarantee access to sanitary pads by school-going girls and women in prisons; and will go a long way in bringing to an end the period poverty and guarantee the dignity of vulnerable women.

She appreciated Partners led by USAID BORESHA JAMII, USAID NURU YA MTOTO and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) among others for their continued support.

Present was the CECM Social Services, Sports, Youth, Gender and Culture Mr Mophat Mandela and other key stakeholders from both levels of Government as well as Development Partners.