Sanitary Pads and Menstrual Health
ZanaAfrica is a leader in menstrual health management and adolescent health and rights education that leverages sanitary pads and health education as a combined intervention for women and girls’ development. We uniquely recognize that this powerful combination is one of the smallest hinges to unlock girls’ potential and break cycles of poverty.
Through our nonprofit programs across Kenya, we deliver sanitary pads and underpants to meet the material dimensions of period poverty for the 2 in 3 girls that lack regular access to menstrual health products. Since 2013, we have supported more than 50,000 girls with pads and underpants helping them to confidently manage menstruation with pride and dignity.
Through our programs we provide free Nia brand sanitary pads, a high quality, affordable product that offers aspirational designs and real time access to health and rights resources and referrals on its packaging, providing a safe space for women and girls to learn about health and reclaim dignity.
In 2019, ZanaAfrica launched The Nia Network, partnership with a collective of health and education organizations to promote free or affordable phone-based services across Kenya.The Nia Network is featured on all Nia brand sanitary pads and educational materials, and continues to provide critical support to adults and adolescents during Covid-19.
Partners include:
Nivi: a platform for delivering high quality, reliable, and free reproductive health resources and clinic referrals
Mums Village: an online community that provides resources, community support and expert advice for pregnant women and mothers
Aunty Jane: a hotline which provides lifesaving, safe and confidential counseling and referrals
Eneza Education: an educational technology organization that provides curriculum aligned revision material in all subjects for primary and secondary learners
With an estimated 10% of user engagement with the Network among those using Nia pads, this partnership is allowing vital services to reach target audiences efficiently and effectively.
