5 reasons sanitary pads should be free for all

THE start of menstruation for young women is an integral step in their lives as the journey towards womanhood begins, but for some girls, the arrival of their monthly menstrual cycle can be daunting due to a lack of proper access to feminine hygiene products.

The ground-breaking collection of short films, In Bloom, has ignited a conversation that resonates deeply with women worldwide. Produced by MTV Staying Alive Foundation with Paramount’s support and grant assistance from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this anthology sheds light on pressing gender issues. The anthology, which premiered on March 8, on International Women’s Day, on BET, DStv Channel 129, aims to raise awareness and inspire action towards a more inclusive society.

From period poverty to child marriage, these films shine the light on the untold stories of women globally. Crafted by five talented female filmmakers from Nigeria, Kenya, India, the United States of America (US) and Brazil, In Bloom champions diverse voices and initiates crucial conversations to dismantle systemic injustices in support of the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal Number 5: Gender Equality.

Providing free sanitary pads would help women and girls manage their menstruation with dignity and allow them to attend school or work regularly.

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Here are 5 Reasons Sanitary Pads Should Be Free for All:

1. Making education accessible to all

Period poverty often leads to girls missing school, affecting their education and prospects. In Kenya, 65% of females cannot afford sanitary pads, leading to one million school-age girls missing an average of four school days per month (Buckner International, 2022). The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal Number 4: Inclusive Education for All, aims to ensure that by 2030, all gender disparities are eliminated in education and there is equal access to all levels of education (United Nations, 2015). Providing free sanitary pads can help ensure that girls stay in school and have equal opportunities for learning, further breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality.

2. Improving health and hygiene

Reports show that poor menstrual hygiene practices and lack of access to sanitary pads can lead to many health consequences, including exposing adolescent girls and women to reproductive organ and urogenital infections, psychosocial stress and reduced opportunities for accessing school and jobs (National Library of Medicine, 2023). This issue is exacerbated by the lack of access to water in Africa – without access to clean water, it becomes challenging to maintain proper menstrual hygiene. According to UNICEF (2022), 418 million people still lack even a basic level of drinking water service, and 839 million still lack basic hygiene services. Providing free sanitary pads would promote better menstrual hygiene practices among schoolgirls, leading to a reduction in the risk of health complications.

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3. Supporting gender equality

Access to menstrual hygiene products can be classified as a basic human right. The United Nations (2024) reported that women and girls who experience multiple, intersecting forms of discrimination tend to fare worse across all dimensions of well-being. Gender norms and bias intersect with economic deprivation to constrain, or severely limit, women’s and girls’ access to healthcare and family planning, education and the labour market. Providing free sanitary pads would help bridge the gender gap and promote equality by ensuring that menstruating women and girls have the same opportunities as others. Gender inequality can transform menstruation into a period marked by deprivation and stigma, undermining one’s fundamental human rights.

4. Breaking the stigma

Period poverty is often accompanied by stigma and shame. According to an article by UNICEF (2021), misinformation and lack of basic knowledge lead to girls feeling ashamed for bleeding. The article states that period stigma can be ended by changing social norms and behaviours and ensuring every child has access to knowledge and information about menstruation. Every girl child should know what a period is and how the cycle works to feel normal and secure in their own body. Providing free sanitary pads can help break down these barriers and open conversations about menstruation, leading to a more inclusive and understanding society.

5. Poverty in Africa

The Institute for Security Studies (2022) reports that about 30 million more Africans fell into extreme poverty (living on less than R36.30 a day) when Covid-19 broke out in 2020. Before the pandemic struck, over 445 million people – equivalent to 34% of Africa’s population – lived below the poverty line. Even then, this figure was almost nine times the average for the rest of the world. These statistics highlight the need for universal access to free sanitary pads, which can help alleviate poverty – a significant barrier preventing women and girls across the continent from accessing essential menstrual hygiene products.

If you’re passionate about helping in the fight to make sanitary pads free and would like to donate, you can do so to various organisations that deal with issues affecting women and children in South Africa. These organisations include:

• MENstruation Foundation: https://menstruation.foundation/
• Caring4Girls: https://www.caring4girls.africa/
• Save the Children: https://www.savethechildren.org.za/
• Women for Change: https://womenforchange.co.za/

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