Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) has pledged to work with like-minded partners towards ensuring school-going girls in vulnerable communities have access to quality menstrual health products.
In 2020, DTB committed funding of KSh50 million on a 5-year plan dubbed #AchieveMoreGirl to work with partners to identify and distribute sanitary kits to at least 30,000 vulnerable teenage girls across the country.
The Bank has so far distributed more than 50,000 sanitary kits to girls in Kilifi, Mombasa, Kibera and Kiambu, having reached 15,000 girls.
The latest distribution was at Oloolua Primary School in Kajiado and was carried out in partnership with For the Love of Girls, a non-governmental organization headed by Fayruz Adan.
DTB Director Pamella Ager said: “Education continues to be one of the main ways someone can transform their economic circumstances, and we as society should not stand by as something as natural as menstruation keeps girls away from school.”
Ms Ager said the Bank’s programme also aims to improve both girls’ and boys’ knowledge of menstrual health hygiene to reduce the peer stigma associated with menstruation.
“As a firm believer in improving the lives of our local communities, we are happy to be working alongside each and every partner to take further this agenda and reach as many girls as possible. We envision a world where every girl can learn, play, and safeguard her own health without experiencing stress, shame, or unnecessary barriers to information or supplies during menstruation,” said Ms Ager.
The event was also attended by Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Hon. Adan Mohammed.
He said that “DTB and For the Love of Girls coming together to bridge the gap to support 650 girls at Oloolua primary school is remarkable. We’re grateful for their efforts in complimenting what the government has done to support girls”
Achieve More Girl is in line with DTB’s commitment as a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.
The Bank has also joined the United Nations Global Compact, joining thousands of companies across the world that have made a commitment to cater to the welfare of people and entrench purpose in their work, even as they pursue wealth creation.
