“Currently, we test the products on ourselves by using them personally. If I don’t experience any irritation or rashes, I then share the product with a few others— friends and colleagues—for further informal testing. If no one has a negative reaction, we consider the product safe enough to distribute to children. However, this is far from ideal.”
My name is Pauline Kambonde Changa, and I am the founder of the K'Negongo Foundation in Namibia. We produce affordable sanitary pads to support menstrual health for women and girls, particularly vulnerable schoolgirls and low-income households.
Establishing a global standard for menstrual products is critically important. It would make a significant difference because, at present, we are using sanitary pads at our own risk. We cannot be certain whether these products are safe or if they might cause infections. The raw materials we use often come from countries like China or India, and without testing laboratories in Namibia, we have no way of knowing the chemical levels or safety of these materials.
Currently, we test the products on ourselves by using them personally. If I don’t experience any irritation or rashes, I then share the product with a few others—friends and colleagues—for further informal testing. If no one has a negative reaction, we consider the product safe enough to distribute to children. However, this is far from ideal.
The standards we are currently working on will have a tremendous impact. Not only will they improve safety and quality, but they will also open up opportunities for us to explore exporting menstrual hygiene products.
In Africa, we refer to this issue as period poverty—where women and girls are unable to manage their menstruation with dignity due to a lack of access to sanitary products. It’s a widespread problem across the continent. With proper standards in place, we hope to begin exporting to other countries, and it would be wonderful to trade across borders more easily.
The challenge always comes down to standards. Unfortunately, there is no specific global standard for menstrual products yet—something that would guide and support manufacturers like us. Establishing such a standard would have a profound impact, especially in a country like Namibia, with a population of approximately 2.6 million.