Women's Health Summit to spotlight Africa's hidden menstrual health crisis beyond period poverty

HARARE – Women's health advocates are calling for a fundamental shift in how Africa addresses period poverty, arguing that millions of women and girls continue to suffer from undiagnosed menstrual disorders, limited access to specialist healthcare and persistent social stigma despite growing awareness campaigns.

The issues will take centre stage at the Women's Health Summit, scheduled for August in Johannesburg, where healthcare professionals, policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders will meet under the theme "Access Granted" to discuss sustainable solutions to Africa's menstrual health challenges.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Bianca Nyamuparadza, founder of the Gynae Warriors Network, said period poverty extends far beyond the inability to afford sanitary products.

"Period poverty goes beyond donating sanitary pads," Nyamuparadza said. "There are girls living with undiagnosed diseases for years. There is bullying, untreated trauma, lack of healthcare, lack of education and the inability to afford specialist treatment."

Nyamuparadza said her advocacy journey began after years of experiencing painful menstrual symptoms that were repeatedly dismissed as normal.

"My journey started because of the lack of information," she said. "It was only after researching my symptoms online that I realised everything I was experiencing had a medical explanation. The conditions existed, but people simply didn't know about them."

That experience inspired her to establish what was then known as Shine in 2010, an organisation that has since evolved into the Gynae Warriors Network, expanding its awareness programmes beyond Zimbabwe into several African countries through regional ambassadors and educational initiatives.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), menstrual health is a fundamental component of sexual and reproductive health, yet millions of women worldwide continue to face barriers to diagnosis, treatment and education, affecting their wellbeing, education and economic participation. The WHO has increasingly called for menstrual health to be integrated into national health and development policies.

Nyamuparadza said stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles preventing women from seeking medical assistance.

"Many women don't want to be associated with menstrual health movements because society immediately links menstrual disorders with infertility," she said. "They would rather suffer in silence than face judgement."

She warned that girls in rural communities are particularly vulnerable because they often lack access to accurate health information and specialist medical services.

"I kept asking myself, what about the little girl in a village in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya or Ghana whose parents and teachers don't understand what she is experiencing? That's when I realised we needed to reach communities differently."

Research published by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) shows that inadequate menstrual health education and poor access to healthcare contribute to school absenteeism, reduced confidence and long-term health challenges for adolescent girls across sub-Saharan Africa. Nyamuparadza said specialist consultations for menstrual and gynaecological disorders can cost more than US$100, excluding diagnostic tests and treatment, placing comprehensive care beyond the reach of many families.

She called for governments, schools, healthcare providers and the private sector to work together to improve menstrual health education, expand specialist services and reduce stigma.

"If a seven-year-old starts menstruating at school and the teacher has never been trained, that teacher can unintentionally become part of that child's trauma," she said.

She believes the Johannesburg summit will help move menstrual health from the margins of public debate to the centre of Africa's health and development agenda, ensuring more women and girls have access to timely diagnosis, treatment and accurate information.

Africa menstrual health crisis