Menstrual hygiene: Nigerian firm moves against period poverty, introduces reusable sanitary pads

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sana Pads Limited, Mary Sabo Olowoloba

Sana Pads Limited, a Nigerian menstrual health company, has intensified efforts to tackle period poverty by producing reusable sanitary pads aimed at improving access for millions of women and girls across the country.

The firm said it was founded in response to the widespread challenge of girls missing school and women missing work due to lack of access to safe and affordable menstrual products, a situation it described as a major barrier to education, health and dignity.

According to estimates cited by the firm, about 50 million women and girls in Nigeria have limited or no access to hygienic period products, while data from the United Nations indicates that one in 10 adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa miss school during menstruation, with some losing up to 20 per cent of the academic year.

Speaking on the initiative, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sana Pads Limited, Mary Sabo Olowoloba, said the company was established to close the gap through locally produced solutions tailored to Nigerian realities.

Olowoloba explained that developing the product came with significant challenges, particularly in sourcing suitable materials that meet both quality standards and environmental conditions.

She noted that the company deliberately avoided importing products, opting instead to invest in research and local production.

“We didn’t want to import, we wanted a product made for Nigerian and African women, by Nigerians, and certified to the highest standards,” she said.

After years of development, the company now produces NAFDAC-certified reusable sanitary pads available in light, medium and heavy flow categories.

The pads are made from breathable natural fabrics and are designed to be washable and reusable, without plastic top sheets, chemical bleaching or single-use absorbent gel layers.

Olowoloba said the design promotes comfort, improves airflow and offers a more sustainable alternative to disposable products.

Beyond production, she added that the company is focused on expanding access through community-based distribution channels, including rural sales agents, market networks, supermarkets and partnerships with local and international organisations.

“We are keeping girls in school, we are keeping women at work, and we are restoring dignity,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the initiative would continue to grow, with the long-term goal of making quality menstrual hygiene products accessible to every woman and girl in Nigeria and across Africa.