Child menstrual hygiene needs attention
By Adrian Mwanza
A GENDER activist Kachusha Nkosha says menstrual health policies should be updated to align and integrate gender equality, climate change and human rights perspectives.
In a statement, Nkosha said climate change was already affecting water availability, sanitation infrastructure and livelihoods, which directly impacted how women and girls managed menstruation.
She said Zambia needed policies that promoted sustainable menstrual products, improved water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
Nkosha said the policies to be promulgated should also address environmental impacts in menstrual product production and disposal.
“Menstruation is a natural biological process and must be recognised as a normal fact of life, not a barrier to education, health or participation in society.
Zambia has made progress through initiatives supporting girls in schools, but policy updates are needed to respond to current realities and ensure that no woman or girl is left behind,” she said.
Nkosha said Zambia needed to adopt a data-driven approach to menstrual product distribution.
She proposed the introduction of a national menstrual health calculator, which she said could help estimate the number of pads required per district and school population.
“This will ensure that distribution aligns with the goals of the free education policy in Zambia,” Nkosha said.
She said this would help planners ensure that every girl who benefited from free education also had access to menstrual products that allowed her to attend school with dignity.
“Strengthening local production and supply chains is essential. Local tailors and small enterprises should be integrated into menstrual product production and distribution systems,” Nkosha said.
“Supporting them through training, standards, and procurement opportunities would create local jobs and community enterprises, reduce supply costs, increase accessibility of reusable menstrual products, and strengthen community ownership of menstrual health solutions.”
Nkosha said while Zambia had removed taxes on certain menstrual products for school-related programmes, further tax reductions or full tax exemptions on sanitary pads for all women and girls should be considered.
She said menstrual products should be treated as essential health commodities and not luxury items.
“Normalising menstruation requires national awareness and education campaigns that engage boys, men, families, teachers, health workers, and community leaders. Menstrual health education should be integrated into school curricula, community health programmes, and media messaging to eliminate stigma and promote dignity,” Nkosha said.
She said if Zambia updated its menstrual health policies to incorporate gender equality, climate resilience, human rights, local economic empowerment and equitable access, menstruation would become a normal and supported fact of life.
