Femme International

Menstruation is shrouded in stigma and silence, leading to lack of information, misconceptions and taboos that result in menstruators being restricted and discriminated against. Menstruators are not free to move about and participate fully in all aspects of their lives, which impacts their work and income-generation ability, their coping mechanisms, and overall well-being. The healthcare system is ill-equipped to recognise and treat menstrual complaints, meaning menstruators suffer from treatable conditions in silence and shame. Commercial (disposable) products are often unavailable and unaffordable, in addition to being low quality and a source of itching and burning. These further limits menstruators’ movements outside the home. Because it results in such a broad, cross-cutting issue, men and women alike recognize it and are eager for solutions. In-school programming has demonstrated the demand and market that is created, and with commercial products currently only being available in major cities and through a few NGOs, a sustainable source of information and access that also addresses affordability through payment plans, with the addition of engaging men, is a much sought-after initiative by communities. Femme has been working on addressing menstrual health since 2013. We have been running programming in Kenya and Tanzania since then, have impacted some 15,000 women and girls, and are leaders and experts in menstrual health programming and M&E, as well as menstrual cup programming. The Twaweza Program is a school-based intervention that uses interactive and comprehensive workshops that cover anatomy, puberty, virginity and the hymen, menstruation (what it is, the menstrual cycle, management, pain management, practices), PMS, vaginal discharge, tracking, menstrual and reproductive health (normal/abnormal, UTIs, RTIs), and then offers participants a choice of reusable menstrual product: reusable pads or menstrual cups. M&E has shown girls miss less school, participate more in school and community life, report fewer menstrual/reproductive health symptoms, feel more confidence and less shame during menstruation, and are very satisfied with their choice of product. The Twende initiative is designed to run alongside this, working in the communities where Twaweza has been implemented to fill the need community members are made aware of.