Breakthrough Action NGO Implement Successful MHH Program at SonySugar

Breakthrough Action Kenya (NGO) partnered with Sonysugar, to implement a social behavior change program on Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) at the workplace. The three-pronged program aims at first, breaking the silence about menstruation, creating awareness of the various menstrual health products and their accessibility, and supporting the management and disposal of menstrual waste at the workplace.

The other workplaces also incorporated in the program include Butali Sugar Mills in Kakamega, Jumbo Mattresses, and Mayfair Bakeries, the latter two in Kisumu County. At SonySugar, TOTs were trained. The ToTs later recruited and trained 20 champions, who also recruited and trained 20 participants each. The pieces of training are continuing. Three menstrual labs have been established in the company and the NGO intends to donate waste bins to collect the menstrual waste before incineration at the Sony Medical Centre. The internal implementation is overseen by a committee of 10. The committee is currently crafting an MHH Workplace Policy for SonySugar. “Once empowered, the relationship between employees and senior managers will get better because menstruation will no longer be a hindrance to employees productivity.” Says Dr. Grace Miheso, Breakthrough Action Chief of Party.

Breakthrough ACTION is an eight-year cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead SBC programming around the world. It is a partnership led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs in collaboration with Save the Children, ThinkPlace, ideas42, Camber Collective, International Center for Research on Women, and Viamo.