Menstrual Health and Hygiene: Developing and Deploying Gender Transformative Technologies

EDGARD NGABOYAMAHINA, PHD, MBA
Research Scientist, Center for WaSH-AID

About the lecture
Menstruation can place significant obstacles in women's and girls' access to health, education and future prospects if they are not equipped for effective Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH). However, MHH has not received adequate attention in the reproductive health, water, sanitation and hygiene sectors, and its impact on achieving many Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is rarely acknowledged. While there is evidence from research studies that many women and girls in emerging countries struggle to access adequate information, products and disposal systems, menstrual waste collection and disposal remain an under-prioritized area in most user-centered sanitation programming. The Center for WaSH-AID and its partner Biomass Controls have developed the S.H.E. (Safe Hygiene for Everyone), an affordable, fully automated sanitary pad sterile disposal unit engineered to provide dignity and privacy, waste reduction and safe hygiene. Once deployed, the technology could have a global impact on education and gender empowerment, health and environmental sustainability. The lecture will first give the status quo on current options available for MHH products disposal, then elaborate on the technical aspects of the innovation before introducing the recent approaches undertaken to position the technology to market.

Lunch will be provided.