If you are new to the world of reusable menstrual pads, then attune yourself to the new norm, as prices of sanitary napkins keep soaring.
As a result of the surge in prices of disposable sanitary napkins, a young female Ghanaian has invented a reusable sanitary pad to address the menstrual health and hygiene needs of low-income group earners in the Country.
Due to its high cost, most females in the rural communities cannot afford disposable pads to manage the menstrual period.
Most females in rural communities prefer using rags and cotton in their underwear to stem the flow of menstrual blood. But as technology emerges, there is a change in taste for such goods among the contemporary women in Ghana as far as hygiene issues are concerned.
However, research has shown that a reusable pad has no environmental and health effect on human beings. Therefore, its use is highly recommended for menstrual management among all who can’t afford the disposable napkin pads.
The Journey of Eco-period Reusable Pad
Mrs. Amdiya Abdul Latiff, CEO of ECO-ME Africa, producers of ECO-PERIOD reusable sanitary pads said she identified the challenges of girls from low-income groups during her national service period at Nerebehin, in the Atwima Nwabiagya district.
She observed girls in her class absented themselves during the menstrual period.
She had to use her meagre allowances to buy them sanitary pads.
But this approach could not keep them in school, given that almost half of the school’s population are female students.
Amdia did a lot of outreach programs to change the mindset of parents on the needs of their female wards and how important it is to get them menstrual pads during such occasions.
She therefore conceived an innovative way in addressing menstrual discharge challenges among female school-going age in the rural areas.
She chose to research how best to help these rural poor folks during such a stage in their lives.
According to her, it took her four years to come out with the Eco-Period Reusable Sanitary pads to address the needs.
The first commercial production was in the middle of 2022, after successfully going through all the hurdles in getting the needed government certifications.
Her production house is stationed at Nerebehin, in the Atwima Nwabiagya District.
Although it has not been easy for her and her team, ”we have been through a lot of challenges along the line, but here we are today with the end product”.
Amdia believes the product would offer a bit of relief to rural poor girls who cannot afford to acquire disposable pads to mitigate the situation every month.
The reusable pad is one of its kinds and it meets the required standard with unique features.
The Eco Period reusable sanitary pad is ultra-thin absorbent and free of chemicals compared to the disposable pads on market.
Amdia envisioned providing quality and affordable menstrual products to empower women and girls in Ghana and across Africa.
This she said would encourage school attendance and change the socio-economic fortunes of targets.
According to her, the pads women used today are made up of mostly synthetic, bleached materials that exposed them to danger in the long run.
As to whether Ghanaians would buy into this concept involved constant sensitization to wet their appetite for reusable pads and defused stereotypes around its reuse.
The company is able to produce 10000 pieces of pads monthly in all sizes for the Ghanaian market and internationally with supporting partners like Afriplastics, European Union & UNDCF, SNV Netherlands Ghana, and GIZ
Currently the company is working with 10 Ghanaians.
History of reusable pads
The first pad was made from wood pulp bandage by a nurse in France, after which, commercial manufacturers borrowed the concept and materialized it into commercial use in 1888.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com/ Richmond Frimpong
