By MN Reporter

Msichana Empowerment Kuria has moved in to support women and girls during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Natalie Robi said they have helped over 100 girls access sanitary pads, underwear, soaps and sanitizers from their headquarters in Ikerege center, Kuria West sub-county.

“Because we know that menstruation doesn’t stop during epidemics, it has been extremely difficult for women and girls from vulnerable backgrounds to manage their menstruation during the crisis safely, comfortably and with dignity,” Robi told Migori News.

She said they have set up a menstrual care bank that is providing the items and responds “to calls of need to villages.”

“With current measures to contain COVID-19 potentially extending for weeks, product availability could be affected by store closures and stock-outs, including essential ones which we share,” she said.

She said most of the item they spread are from locals and friends from Spain.

“We now plan a food bank in the next few weeks to include dry foods like rice, beans, maize and flour with 100 families set to benefit in a month,” she said.

She said activists are worried against increase of violence on women and girls as “locked in with their abusers, isolated from help and support.”

“Additionally, we have experienced that women will be at greater risk of exploitation, sexual violence in the home and neglect. We are likely to see an increase in child marriage,” she said.