Limited access to sanitary wear negatively impacts girls’ lives as it hinders the education of young girls. It is the norm in Zimbabwe for girls to miss school when they are menstruating due to the lack of sanitary pads. But a new gender-responsive approach to budgeting could change this. A gender responsive budget is sensitive to the distinctive needs of men and women, while allocating and spending public funds. This approach will ensure that gender inequalities in all facets of society are addressed which will result in bridging the development gap between men and women.

Although girls and women sometimes find resourceful ways to improvise sanitary pads, some of the materials they use offer limited absorbency, making it challenging for girls to participate in school. Sometimes young women and girls are forced to use rags, newspapers and cow dung; and these may pose health risks like vaginal infections.