How Menstrual Cups Are Changing Lives in East Africa

[Deleted]

www.huffingtonpost.ca/sabrina-rubli/menstrual-cups-east-africa_b_6313436.html

Women around the world consistently face unique, gender-specific barriers when it comes to staying safe and healthy. Women are at higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, malaria, pneumonia, as well as sexual assault and related complications. Many of these issues are beyond our control, and linked to deep-rooted cultural practices that would take decades to alter.

However, there are some issues that can be addressed, and have surprisingly simple solutions with remarkably impactful outcomes. Menstruation is a huge barrier faced by women around the world, and improper management and hygiene practices often lead to serious health concerns, as well as harmful social practices.

In Kenya, the average cost of a package of sanitary pads is 75KSH -- approximately $1 CAD. While this may seem like a minimal amount of money, the average daily income for unskilled labourers is around $1.50 CAD, meaning that purchasing sanitary supplies each month is not financially possible for thousands of women.

Without access to proper sanitary supplies, women and girls will resort to using alternative methods of menstrual management -- such as leaves, newspaper, rags, cotton, bits of mattress stuffing, even mud. Not only do these methods not work, but they can lead to serious infections and discomfort. Not to mention how uncomfortable they are to wear during the day.

Providing access to healthy and sustainable menstrual management materials allows women to stay safe, and healthy, and does not sacrifice her ability to participate in work, school or daily activities.

Menstrual cups are made out of surgical grade silicone and are inserted into the vagina to collect, rather than absorb menstrual fluid, and are overall a much healthier option for a woman's body. Unlike tampons and pads that contain harmful bleaches and chemicals, menstrual cups have no negative side effects on a woman's body and there is no threat of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

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When inserted correctly, the cup sits about half an inch inside the vagina, and creates a vacuum seal to prevent leakage. The cups provide 12 hours of comfortable, leak-free protection, and can be reused for up to 10 years -- making it an economically wise and sustainable solution. For women in North America, it makes your period simple and hassle-free. For women in developing countries, it can be a life-changing solution.

Menstrual cups create economic freedom and relieve the financial burden of menstruation. Without having to budget for sanitary pads each month, women are better able to provide for themselves and their families.

Having 12 hours of protection allows women to go about her life without having to worry about locating latrines -- a major challenge in many communities. It also allows her to control her body -- emptying the cup when she has the time for a shower.

For schoolgirls, having a menstrual cup allows them to attend school -- every day of the month. Girls in Kenya will miss an average of 4.9 days of school each month because of her periods, adding up to around 20 per cent of the school year. Giving a schoolgirl a menstrual cup means she no longer needs to leave school to find a latrine during the day. She is no longer afraid of leaking, and being mocked by her classmates. She can sit comfortably in class and participate in school activities. She no longer needs to skip breakfast to buy pads.

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Keeping girls in the classroom allows them to excel academically, and increases their odds of continuing on to post-secondary school, and becoming influential and respected members of society.

Femme International's Feminine Health Management Program distributes menstrual cups, along with the essential education and hygiene materials to schoolgirls in East Africa, helping them stay safe, health and in school -- every day of the month. To donate a menstrual cup, or a Femme Kit, to a girl in need, please visit Femme's Holiday Giving Campaign.

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[mpc]

This is awesome, such a simple way to make a difference. I am going to donate.

[Deleted]

That was a really interesting good read. Thanks.

I have a question though. Since the water supplies in many of these places are equally unsanitary have there been side effects of washing the cups in dirty/contaminated water? That also seems like a huge infection risk.

I fully understand it's better than the alternatives by a long shot, just something I wondered about.

[Deleted]

Well, I'm sure there have been, as unsanitary water will try and kill you in lots of ways.

I'm guessing it's minor compared to the effects of drinking it.

Still, obviously many women have access to an extra 2 cups of drinking water a month that don't have the buck to spend on disposable pads.

[kangaroo11]

It's changed a lot of things about my period for me and I don't have it bad. This is awesome and I want to donate too.

[dcn]

This is awesome.

[Deleted]

This does seem preferable in a lot of ways, but it does seem that bacterial infections would be especially problematic.

[Deleted]

Listen Debbie Downers: if someone that's actually WORKING IN AFRICA tells me that this is working and helping, I'm going to take their word for it, mmmkay?

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2014 12:25:34 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Listen Debbie Downers: if someone that's actually WORKING IN AFRICA tells me that this is working and helping, I'm going to take their word for it, mmmkay?

LOL. I know. And hey, I said it was a good thing. It was just a random thought.

[motzie]

This is awesome. I'm going to donate for each of my sisters as part of their birthday gifts for next week.

[justjen]

I think they can probably boil water...

[D2M]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I wonder how big of a cultural hurdle it is in some communities to convince women to use cups (or even tampons).

I read something a while ago about how the lack of underwear in some deeply impoverished communities was devastating for women when they had their periods. (They basically never left their homes.) Stuff like that sticks with me. I definitely forget sometimes -- OK, a lot of times -- how good we have it here.

[DarcyLongfellow]

That's amazing. Thanks for sharing!

It's genuinely shocking to me how the simple act of menstruating is so limiting to women in other parts of the world (did any you read that article discussed on PCE a few months back about menstrual pads in India?).

[mpc]

From the FAQs:

Finding clean water is a major issue in Mathare. However, cleaning the menstrual cup is not difficult. The most important thing is for girls to wash their hands with soap before inserting or removing the cup. After removing it, the outside of the cup is clean, and it can just be emptied and re-inserted if clean water is unavailable. At the end of her period, the cup must be soaked in boiling water for 5 minutes. Because the water is boiled, it does not have to be potable. Our programme provides the girls with soap, cloth, and a pot for cleaning menstrual cups in the Femme Kits.

[Deleted]

They have a great FAQ on their site: www.femmeinternational.org/faqs.html

What is the cost breakdown of the Femme Kit?
The Femme Kits cost $50 CAD and consist of a menstrual cup, a bowl, a small towel, a pen, a logbook, a bar of soap with a protective container, all in a little cosmetic bag. Combined, these items cost approximately $25 CAD. All girls who receive the Kit also participate in 3 interactive workshops which teach them about the female reproductive system, feminine hygiene, menstrual management and sexual health. This workshop has a variety of handouts and teaching aides, so some of the money from each Femme Kit goes towards this, as well as providing each girl with a snack and a drink during workshops. The remaining money covers various administrative costs to keep Femme operating. If you have any further questions about where our money goes and how we spend it, we would be more than happy to chat with you, just email us!

[sillygoosegirl]

Dec 19, 2014 12:04:27 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

That was a really interesting good read. Thanks.

I have a question though. Since the water supplies in many of these places are equally unsanitary have there been side effects of washing the cups in dirty/contaminated water? That also seems like a huge infection risk.

I fully understand it's better than the alternatives by a long shot, just something I wondered about.

I wonder about the impact of not having clean water too.  I've especially wondered it while traveling in India and in the wilderness on my period with a menstrual cup.  

[hilwithonelary]

I thought I was responding here instead of CEP, so I'm going to C&P

I love my Lunette, but I wonder how how easy it us to sell the idea of a menstrual cup in some parts of the world. If they can be successful, I think that's wonderful.

Another organization that helps with menstrual hygiene is Days for Girls. They provide cloth pad kits. The pads are made of dark patterned flannel (makes stains less noticeable ) and unfold into a square so that they can be hung up to dry with normal laundry and not draw attention.