Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, partnered by KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, Ministry of Health and NGO and aid agency partners, in Kenya, were awarded with a grant from the MRC/DfID/Wellcome Trust (Joint Global Health Trials; Protect Research), to explore menstrual solutions among schoolgirls in western Kenya. Findings from this proof of concept study will be used as a platform for larger-scale studies to examine ways to improve school enrolment, retention, and achievement of girls in low and middle income countries.
A recent blog by Lynn Schreiber on behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation highlights this work and is accessible here:
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation blog:
http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2012/10/One-Reason-Kenyan-Girls-in-Poor-Areas-Dont-Go-to-School
GiZ SuSanA forum blog:
http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2381-a-12-years-primary-pupil-calls-for-help#2445
A KEMRI/CDC feature on the study:
http://www.cdckemri.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:menstrual-solutions-for-schoolgirls-to-be-studied-with-liverpool-school-of-tropical-medicine&catid=1:latest-news