In Malawi, a pack of sanitary pads costs a day's wages and girls often miss school because they don't have enough cotton to use during their periods.

A pack of sanitary pads sold in shops in Malawi costs 500 kwacha, or $0.75. This is equivalent to a minimum daily wage for a worker, while girls use at least two packs of sanitary pads each time they menstruate.

During menstruation, girls in Malawi often make use of old cloth by cutting up their chitenge, a sash worn around the waist, into small pieces. But the worn-out cloth often rubs against the body, causing pain and easily shifting out of place, leading to many embarrassing situations.

Not only that, Malawian women also have to wash the old cloth early in the morning or late at night to avoid being seen by others. Drying the cloth in a visible place is also a taboo here. Therefore, they often have to find a hidden corner inside the house to spread the cloth.

Trinitas with female students. Photo: BBC.

But Trinitas, a 31-year-old researcher at the University of Medicine in Blantyre, Malawi, has found a way to help many women deal with their monthly troubles during menstruation. When only two girls in her class showed up for class, Trinitas asked the teacher about the other girls and learned that the reason they had been absent for a week was because they were menstruating. Typically, Malawian women stay home during their periods.

Trinitas recalled her school days and was frustrated that another generation of women faced difficulties in maintaining their hygiene. She bought an old sewing machine and began making reusable pads from locally available fabric. Trinitas conducted research in schools and all the girls were given the pads to try. The response from the girls was overwhelmingly positive.

The challenge Trinitas is facing is finding investment in a poor country like Malawi. She needs enough capital to mass produce sanitary pads at affordable prices for the people of Malawi.

According to VNE