Ethiopian women make reusable sanitary pads
Hanan Ahmed's company produces 1,000 washable pads daily to help girls stay in school.
In Addis Ababa, women are sewing reusable sanitary pads to address the high cost of imported products. Hanan Ahmed founded Han's With Care in 2021 to provide an affordable alternative, aiming to restore dignity and keep girls in school.
The lack of affordable sanitary pads in Ethiopia means many women and girls miss school or resort to unsafe methods. Ahmed, inspired by her own experiences with heavy flow and embarrassment, left the fashion industry to start the business. Her company now produces washable cotton pads that can be reused for up to two years.
Sponsors, including banks, fund the production of around 1,000 pads daily, which are distributed free to girls and women nationwide. At Nigat Kokeb School, 15-year-old Betselot Mahareg finds the reusable pads a practical and less embarrassing solution than disposable ones.
Why it mattersGirls in Ethiopia can now attend school without interruption due to menstruation thanks to affordable, reusable sanitary pads.