A mobile application to boost the distribution of sanitary towels in Kenyan schools was launched yesterday. The Nia Network, launched by Chase Group Foundation in partnership with Zana Africa, will coordinate the distribution of sanitary pads nationally.

Speaking at the launch at a Nairobi hotel, Jane Mwereru, an assistant quality assurance and standards director at the Education ministry said an estimated 850,000 girls miss school every month due to lack of sanitary towels.

"With 43 per cent of Kenyans under 15 years old, the need is growing every year. Nearly 260,000 girls receiving more than 18 million sanitary pads and 900,000 underpants from eight distributors in 2,500 schools," she said.

Zana Africa CEO Megan Mukuria said the two partners have announced a sanitary pad giveaway challenge. She called on parties interested in distributing sanitary pads to school girls to download the mobile application and fill an application form.

This, she said, will help distribute pads and underpants to 7,600 girls. Once a distributor logs in, he creates an account and enters the name of the school he has distributed the towels to.

This is recorded to avoid duplication to allow another distributor to choose another school. Both the application and the form can be found through Chase Bank website.