Period poverty Action Aid looks at the use of sustainable products

poverty Period poverty and the use of sustainable products by ActionAid UK Period

How much are you spending on periods in your lifetime? Our calculator gives a stark reminder of the financial burden of menstruating. As a result of this cost, millions of women and girls worldwide can’t afford to buy or access the

Aida is a 16-year-old girl in Malawi who wants to be a nurse when she’s older but who began to skip school because of the bullying she faced when she had no means of cleaning or changing her pad. “The boys could see the cloth and they laugh at me, so I go home to escape the bullying,” she says. safe sanitary products they need to manage their periods without shame or stigma.

In the countries that ActionAid UK works in, women and girls are often forced to use whatever they can to manage their periods, including rags, newspapers and even tree leaves. Those who have some pads may also have no choice but to re-use the same one for many days – putting their health at serious risk. These same women and girls often face local taboos about menstruation as well, which restrict their way of life further.

For example, in some cultures menstruating women and girls are prohibited from using salt in their cooking; milking animals, and touching other family members during their cycle. They are also told they can’t get pregnant if they

have sex while they have their period. Girls we work with have also reported facing ridicule at school when menstrual blood has leaked through their clothing leading to missed days and some drop out altogether.

It’s estimated that one in 10 girls in Africa will miss school when they have their periods. Missing school or work, in the long run, can have a devastating impact on their potential to live a normal life, support themselves and contribute to their communities. Additionally, girls missing out on school can leave them

Ishu is a 14-year-old girl in Nepal who has to leave her family every time she has a period because it’s believed she will bring bad luck. She is forced to live alone in a remote, windowless mud hut without warm clothes or running water. “I’m scared to stay alone in the hut”, she says, “I’m scared of ghosts and snakes [and that] bad people will come and attack me.” This practice is called chauppadi and although it has been illegal since 2005, it’s still practised in many communities. In recent years, at least two girls are known to have died as a result of it. more vulnerable to child marriage and early pregnancy – ultimately denying them their basic right to be educated and reach their potential.

Mass-produced; disposable sanitary products are also harming the environment due to containing non-biodegradable materials. Most sanitary pads contain up to 90 per cent plastic, for example, while tampons have plastic applicators. This large-scale plastic production releases vast amounts of greenhouse gases which cause air pollution and global warming. Improper disposal of sanitary products such as wrapping them in plastic bags also fills up landfills and takes years to biodegrade. Some sanitary products are also flushed down the toilet, which could mean that they end up in the sea and washed up on our beaches. This has detrimental effects for humans, the wildlife and our land and oceans.

ActionAid UK is running programmes worldwide to put an end to these problems for good. We train women and girls to make reusable sanitary pads, so they always have access to clean and affordable sanitary products, and will always try to implement sustainable solutions, such as reusable DIY cloth pads.

For example, in a pilot project in Malawi women and girls are trained to make DIY pads with sewing machines to then sell at the local market for a small sum supporting them to become economically independent, and supporting girls education by distributing them in local schools. https://www.actionaid.org.uk/ blog/news/2019/05/24/how-to-make-your-ownreusable-sanitary-pads

In many countries, and with support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, our biggest donor, we have also opened more girls’ rooms in schools, where girls can get changed, use the toilet, access free fabric pads and learn sewing skills to make their own. They can also access more information about their periods, sex and pregnancy in these safe spaces, so they are better informed about their bodies.

And, where appropriate, we distribute menstrual cups to women and girls. Menstrual

cups are made of silicone and last 10 years, leaving very little waste. They are also easy to use and safe as they can be sterilised using boiling water.

Our work increases girls’ choice and access to sanitary products, putting their voices front and centre when determining which products are most useful for their communities as well as for the environment.

In some situations, such as humanitarian emergencies, it is difficult to promote sustainable options. If there is no running water or means of cleaning and sewing, reusable pads and menstrual cups are not effective. At times like this, we need public support to provide thousands of women and girls with hygiene kits that contain more traditional sanitary pads. Ultimately however, our focus is on ending gender inequality because this is what causes period poverty. We need to tackle the gender injustice that allows periods to hold women and girls back from reaching their full potential and progress.

Period swaps Sustainable options that won’t harm the environment www.yourhealthhub.uk

Use cotton tampons or sanitary towels - some are plastic free

Try reusable and washable sanitary towels or underwear

Mooncups or menstrual sea sponge tampons are washable and reusable

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