KEBS Issues New Guidelines for Reusable Sanitary Towels

Reusable sanitary towels Specification is a first edition guideline whose objective is to offer quality and affordable reusable sanitary pads especially for women and girls in low-income areas who are currently forced to use clothes or other unhygienic materials or for students, they are forced to stay at home during menstrual cycles.

“The standard will address issues around the performance of multiple-use sanitary pads by outlining absorbency requirements, fastening mechanism so that they do not move out of position, comfort and feel, skin sensitivity and odor, materials, care and user instruction for awareness”, says Esther Ngari, Director Standards Development and Trade, KEBS.

“The standard however retains the desired features of reusable pads including; high absorbency/no leakage, especially side leakage; no chafing (not abrasive, soft to the touch, to be friendly to the skin); comfort to wear (thin body shape); good fit to the body contour, stay in place; no anesthetic appearance or color; no odor; no noise; no humidity that leads to skin rash; a high level of hygiene; and easy to use,” she adds.

According to the Menstrual Hygiene Policy launched by the Ministry of Health in May 2020, 58% of girls in rural settings and 53 percent of girls in urban areas in Kenya are unable to afford sanitary pads.

The new standard provides a healthy alternative to disposable sanitary pads especially for women and girls who face social issues such as stigma and missing school due to lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products.

This is also a progressive measure to reduce the use of disposable sanitary pads which are an environmental burden.