863 young girls in God Jope Ward, Suna East in Migori County have received sanitary towels and inner pants aid as one of the measures to help curb teenage pregnancy which has been on the rise in the region.
The donation given by the area member of the County assembly Mr Charles Onyango Koyoo, are one of the initiatives taken to save the girls from being lured by young men into unplanned sex with the promise of getting them items in return.
Mr Koyoo noted that one of the main reasons for coming into the aid of young girls is the inability of most parents to provide such a necessity to their daughters as most fathers abandon the task to their wives who are equally unable and hence leaving the girls stranded at the mercy of preying men.
He outlined that period poverty has led to the steady rise of teenage pregnancies in his ward and across the county as the promise of giving sanitary towels in exchange of sex to young girls often results to unwanted pregnancies.
Concurrently, the MCA also noted that since the collapse of tobacco and sugarcane farming in the area, most parents are left languishing in abject poverty and hence cannot cope with the recurring needs of the girl child.
“in my ward most parents were tobacco growers and sugarcane farmers. But since the collapse of the companies, most parents struggle to put food in the table. They can not put up with raising small funds for keeping young girls safe,”he said.
He added that he will be taking the initiative every term to ensure girls are safe and are in school to pursue their careers.
His move was warmly welcomed by the young girls who acknowledged the challenges they have been going through without whom to tell as their parents are having a lot of financial obligations.
“we are greatly humbled with what our MCA has done to us. For young girls getting sanitary towels is our main challenge because some of our parents don’t have money at the time we need it,” said Ms Verah Aoko, one of the beneficiaries.
She added that it will now relive parent of the burden for the next term as they will only get them fee and small pocket money when going back to school.
Mary Atieno a parent lauded the kind gesture by the MCA and cautioned the girls not be duped by young men on the promise of buying them the items donated to them.
“I want to urge my young girls to focus on studies now and not allow themselves be duped by young cunning men,” she said.
The aid included 3 inner pants, 1 biker pant and three sanitary pads for each of 863 girls across the entire ward. All girls in the puberty age were targeted in the initiative.
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