Ethiopia: Reusable Sanitary Pads Help Girls Break the Silence Around Menstruation

In Ethiopia, a growing initiative is challenging the stigma surrounding menstruation while addressing the financial barriers that prevent many girls and women from accessing essential menstrual hygiene products.

At a small workshop in Addis Ababa, women work behind sewing machines, transforming cotton fabric into reusable sanitary pads. The initiative, established by entrepreneur Hanan Ahmed, aims to provide an affordable alternative to disposable products while encouraging communities to treat menstruation as a normal part of life.

Ahmed founded Han's Care in 2021 after reflecting on her own experiences with menstrual stigma and the challenges faced by girls who cannot afford sanitary products.

She recalled missing school for one or two weeks during her periods because heavy bleeding sometimes stained her clothes and caused embarrassment.

Her experience inspired her to leave the fashion industry and establish a business focused on menstrual health, affordability and social awareness.

Addressing Period Poverty Through Reusable Products

Access to sanitary products remains a challenge for many Ethiopian women and girls. The high cost of disposable pads, combined with limited availability, means some are unable to manage their periods comfortably and safely.

A 2017 study by Johns Hopkins University, cited in recent reporting, found that only 28 per cent of Ethiopian women surveyed said they had everything they needed to manage their periods.

For girls in low-income households, the lack of menstrual products can result in missed school days, embarrassment and reduced participation in everyday activities.

Han's Care produces washable cotton pads that can be reused for up to two years when properly maintained.

The company has a reported production capacity of approximately 1,000 pads daily. Rather than relying primarily on conventional retail sales, it works with sponsors, including banks, that purchase the products for free distribution to girls and women in different communities.

The model combines local production with community support, offering a practical response to the cost of disposable menstrual products.

Helping Girls Stay in School

The initiative is already reaching students in Addis Ababa.

At Nigat Kokeb School, girls have received reusable sanitary pads alongside awareness sessions designed to improve their understanding of menstrual hygiene.

For 15-year-old student Betselot Mahareg, the reusable products offer a practical option that can help reduce the embarrassment associated with menstrual leaks.

Teachers also play an important role in preparing girls for menstruation before their first period.

Teacher Tigist Shewangizaw says educating young learners helps prevent fear and confusion, ensuring that girls understand what is happening to their bodies and do not feel isolated.

The broader objective is to create school environments where menstruation does not become a reason for girls to miss lessons or withdraw from classroom activities.

Breaking the Silence Around Menstruation

Beyond distributing sanitary products, Ahmed wants to change how menstruation is discussed within Ethiopian families and communities.

In some areas, cultural and religious attitudes continue to make periods a difficult subject to discuss openly. Girls may experience shame, exclusion or discrimination when they begin menstruating.

Ahmed has also raised concerns about girls in rural communities who resort to unsuitable materials, including pieces of old mattresses and dirty socks, because they cannot access proper menstrual products.

Such practices can create hygiene risks and underline the importance of affordable products and accurate menstrual health education.

She believes that conversations about menstruation should begin at home and continue in schools, workplaces and community spaces.

Ahmed is also encouraging a different approach to raising children, teaching her daughter to understand menstruation as a natural part of growing up rather than something to hide.

A Growing Movement for Menstrual Health in Ethiopia

Han's Care is part of a wider effort by organisations and development partners working to improve menstrual health and hygiene across Ethiopia.

In a separate initiative, UNICEF has supported menstrual health education and reusable sanitary pad-making skills in schools through its System Transformation of Education Programme.

According to UNICEF, the programme has established menstrual health and hygiene rooms in 584 schools and provided skills training to 39,000 girls.

The programme also encourages students to share their knowledge with classmates, helping create supportive school communities where menstrual health can be discussed without shame.

CARE has similarly supported reusable menstrual product distribution and awareness programmes in Ethiopia, including activities in Adama, where more than 30,000 reusable menstrual kits were distributed through a project.

These initiatives demonstrate the importance of combining access to menstrual products with education, community participation and efforts to challenge harmful social attitudes.

Beyond Sanitary Pads: Dignity, Education and Opportunity

Period poverty is not simply a matter of access to sanitary products. It is also connected to education, economic opportunity, gender equality and the ability of women and girls to participate fully in society.

When girls lack the resources to manage menstruation, the consequences can extend beyond a few days away from school. Repeated absences can affect academic performance, confidence and long-term opportunities.

Affordable reusable products offer one possible solution, particularly when accompanied by proper information on washing, drying, storage and hygiene.

For Ahmed, every pad produced represents an opportunity to make menstrual health more accessible and encourage conversations that have long been avoided.

As Ethiopia continues to confront period poverty and menstrual stigma, initiatives such as Han's Care are demonstrating how local entrepreneurship, education and community partnerships can contribute to meaningful change.

The ultimate goal is a society where menstruation is understood as a normal biological process and no girl has to sacrifice her education, confidence or dignity because of her period.