From Kiran Gandhi’s famous tampon-free run while menstruating during the London Marathon to Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about reporter Megyn Kelly during the GOP debate, everyone seems to be talking about periods. Despite the recent fanfare, menstruation remains to be one of the world’s long-overlooked taboos. Millions of girls and women in the developing world are not at school or work, and not by choice. When their menstrual cycle comes, they don’t have any sanitary pads.

In the poorest parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, menstruating school girls and women are not able to afford this simple hygienic product – as basic and necessary as a toothbrush – and because of this, they are missing up to 50 days a year of school and work, which has adverse effects for their earning potential later on life.

It’s hard to believe, but currently girls and women without access to affordable pads are turning to materials such as mud, ash, or even newspapers. While they are being resourceful by using what is available and free, these materials are ineffective, uncomfortable, and unhygienic. Because they cannot afford pads, girls and women are missing out from fully participating at school or work. In Rwanda, like many places in Africa, a package of pads costs more than an average day’s wages. 

While the donation of premium-priced pads by multinational corporations, NGOs, governments, or schools may temporarily patch this situation in isolated communities, this is not a sustainable, nor an environmentally friendly solution. For these reasons, SHE is providing local women with a sustainable and scalable business of manufacturing and distributing locally produced, affordable, eco-friendly, sanitary pads. And it’s using banana fiber - yeah, you heard right - to make these pads a reality.

SHE doesn’t stop there. We are debunking myths and taboos about menstruation with our health and hygiene education in schools and in the community.

Jobs, investment, education, sustainability – we think it’s straight up common sense. If you agree, do something new and different than the status quo – and talk about menstruation. Don’t be late, period.

Article contributed by Connie Lewin in support of SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises).

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