South Africa: Menstrual Health Is About More Than Giving Girls Menstrual Products

What the report says

Health-e, republished by AllAfrica, says a new I_Menstruate Movement study found that 75% of surveyed girl learners experienced distress at the onset of menstruation. The report argues that menstrual health is not only about access to pads or other products, but also about the emotional strain girls can face when they lack information, safe facilities and support at school.

The article links that message to World Mental Health Day and the International Day of the Girl Child, which were marked on 10 and 11 October respectively. I_Menstruate Movement is using those observances to press for action on barriers that it says affect girls’ dignity, safety, education and mental wellbeing. The group is taking part in meetings in Maseru, Lesotho, including the 29th Ordinary Session of the Civil Society Organisations Forum and the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The organization says menstrual stigma, poor sanitation, and a lack of age-appropriate education can lead to shame, exclusion and anxiety, especially in schools. It argues that governments should treat menstrual health as part of children’s broader rights, not as a narrow hygiene issue.

The report also says the movement is promoting child-led advocacy, including a Menstrual Health Equity Bill developed with school-going members. It calls for better school WASH facilities, reliable menstrual products, supportive environments and budgets to back implementation, with girls involved in shaping policy and accountability.