In many African countries, menstruation is rarely talked about, yet remains a stressful problem for teenage girls, particularly those from low-income homes who have to skip classes because they can’t afford sanitary pads.
However, an Ethiopian entrepreneur in Addis Ababa is working to change that by producing affordable reusable sanitary towels that can last up to one year.
When Emebet Tamiru came back home after living in Holland, she established a company producing reusable sanitary pads as well as baby diapers.
She manufacturers reusable sanitary pads at a workshop in Ethiopia’s capital and in turn makes a huge difference to the lives of many girls who come from disadvantaged families.
UNICEF estimates that one in 10 African girls miss school during their periods because they can’t afford to buy pads.
