Several girls and women in Rwanda, especially in rural and low-income communities, still struggle to manage their periods safely and with dignity due to limited access to menstrual hygiene products. According to a 2020 report by the World Bank, at least 20 percent of schoolgirls, mainly in rural areas, miss up to 50 days of school annually due to limited access to menstrual hygiene products. The economic cost of this absenteeism is substantial, with estimates suggesting a potential annual loss of $115 million in GDP. ALSO READ: Period poverty: Activists on improving access to menstrual hygiene services and products While the government has made progress in addressing the issue, including a Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on sanitary products, access and affordability remain out of reach for many. In December 2019, the government removed the 18 percent VAT on menstrual products to improve affordability. This was reaffirmed through Article 8 of Law No. 049/2023, enacted in September 2023. However, retail prices remain high, with sanitary pads still selling for between Rwf 1,000 and Rwf 1,500 per pack. ALSO READ: Period poverty: Should sanitary pads be made free? Solutions from local enterprises Blandine Umuziranenge, the founder and CEO of Kosmotive, a local manufacturer of reusable sanitary pads, said her company is working to offer cost-effective alternatives. “We produce KosmoPads, which are reusable for up to two years and can help users save up to 80 percent compared to disposable products,” she said. Despite the long-term savings, the initial cost remains prohibitive for the most vulnerable. To address this, Kosmotive has introduced branded kiosks and a flexible payment system that allows users to buy pads in installments. The company has expanded operations to more than 20 districts and currently produces up to 5,000 units per day. However, Umuziranenge noted that the absence of national standards for reusable pads is limiting wider distribution. “Reusable sanitary pads are not yet standardised in Rwanda, and as a result, mainstream retail outlets often reject them,” she said. Kosmotive engages in awareness campaigns using creative approaches such as poetry and theatre to combat stigma and normalise conversations around menstruation, Umuziranenge added. Education and empowerment initiatives Another local player, Saye Company Ltd, is tackling period poverty through education and empowerment. The social enterprise, led by Amina Umuhoza, runs the Kigali Menstruation Station, a safe space that provides menstrual products, sanitation facilities, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education. “We have reached more than 10,000 participants across the country through training sessions designed to be youth-friendly and engaging,” Umuhoza said. To make SRH education more accessible, the company developed tools such as the Kotana board game and the IRIZA comic book. Its “Let’s Talk About” clubs encourage peer-led discussions to challenge myths and promote informed choices. Saye addresses the economic dimension of period poverty, for instance, through its Teen Mum Incubation Program and Saye Home Décor Shop, the organisation offers vocational training and income-generating opportunities to young women and teenage mothers. “Economic empowerment enables women and girls to afford menstrual products and live with dignity,” Umuhoza said. On May 28, the company partnered with Tamu Pads to launch Reprocollective, a digital platform aimed at mobilising local businesses and individuals to support menstrual health initiatives and reduce teenage pregnancy. Despite these efforts, Umuhoza noted barriers, stressing that affordability is still an issue, and cultural taboos continue to hinder open dialogue, especially in rural areas. “Many schools lack access to clean water and sanitation, and there’s still a gap in comprehensive, culturally sensitive education.” Government measures and gaps In 2019, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and partners, introduced a Minimum Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) package in schools. The package includes gender-segregated toilets, private rooms equipped with sanitary supplies, soap, pain relief medication, and trained attendants. MHM is designed to help schoolgirls manage menstruation safely and with dignity, aiming to reduce absenteeism and stigma. “Girls’ room” initiative, known as Icyumba cy’Umukobwa, was launched in 2012 to provide a supportive environment for girls during menstruation and reduce school absenteeism and dropout rates due to period poverty. While these programs have helped improve the situation in some areas, coverage remains inconsistent, particularly in remote and rural schools. Infrastructural limitations and inadequate funding continue to hamper the scalability and effectiveness of such interventions. Experts point to the absence of a national menstrual health policy. Although menstrual health is addressed under broader frameworks such as the National School Health Policy and the National Sanitation Policy, the lack of a standalone policy has led to fragmented and poorly coordinated efforts. A report by Days for Girls International, a global nonprofit working to eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation highlights that menstrual health and hygiene in Rwanda has not yet been prioritised and falls under no specific line ministry. This lack of clear leadership has contributed to slow progress in policy coordination and funding, despite increasing push from non-governmental organisations to bring MHH issues to light. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) notes the need for more comprehensive policies, noting that while initiatives like the establishment of the girls’ room in schools and awareness campaigns are steps in the right direction, they are insufficient without a cohesive national strategy. Since 2018, RBC has tackled period poverty through health education campaigns and promoting reusable menstrual products. Partnering with community health workers, RBC distributes menstrual kits and provides crucial information to women and girls across the country. However, limited data on the reach and impact of these programs makes it difficult to measure their effectiveness. “Menstrual health is still viewed as a private or secondary issue, which is why it rarely appears in budgets or policies. We need to shift that thinking and start recognising it as a critical public health and gender equity issue,” said Liliane Uwineza, a menstrual health advocate. Uwineza pointed out that the problem is not only affordability but also the low prioritisation of menstrual hygiene at both household and national levels, largely due to limited awareness among decision-makers. “Parents must also be part of this conversation. They should prioritise menstrual hygiene products for their children just as they do other essential needs,” she added. She stated that locally made products are often safer and more environmentally friendly, however, there is need of financial support to scale up and prove that quality and sustainability can come from within our own communities. High production costs, a lack of subsidies, and the influx of low-cost, lower-quality imports, particularly from countries like China create an unfair competitive environment, which discourages many local entrepreneurs despite their commitment to safety and quality, Uwineza added. To address the stigma and mindset challenges, Uwineza urges broad awareness campaigns using local influencers and community health structures. “Let’s integrate menstrual hygiene messaging into existing health promotion efforts from the village level, including the Community Health Worker package,” she suggested. She encouraged the integration of menstrual hygiene education into school curriculums to normalise the topic from an early age. In schools, she stressed the need to budget for and equip Icyumba cy’umukobwa to ensure girls have a safe space during menstruation. “Financial support for local initiatives is essential. The government and partners should set up grant mechanisms to support entrepreneurs working on menstrual hygiene solutions,” Uwineza added.
