Period poverty: South African campaigner gets ‘life-changing’ donation

It has been estimated that around seven million South African girls cannot afford to buy sanitary products.

South Africa is just one of many countries facing period poverty.

Globally period poverty affects at least 500 million women and girls, the World Bank has said, external, leaving them with little access to the facilities they need during their periods.

In August last year the BBC led a pan-Africa investigation into its effects across the continent. It found that women in Ghana on a minimum wage spend one in every $7 they earn on sanitary towels.

But it is not just about the cost and availability of the pads themselves.

Poverty research outfit J-Pal Africa looked into the impact on girls’ education in Madagascar, looking at the lack of knowledge about hygiene practices.

The study included 2,250 schoolgirls in 140 primary and secondary schools.

One conclusion it came to was that after constructing proper washing facilities, as well as providing teacher training and vouchers for free sanitary pads, students’ overall academic skills, memory and attention improved.

Additionally, girls were 17% more likely to advance to the next grade.

Through her interactions with Ms Magwashu, Caity says she also came to understand that providing funding for period products was “only part of the solution”.

Ms Magwashu also sends teams into schools to educate both girls and boys about menstrual hygiene.