INTERDEPARTMENTAL DIALOGUE URGES COLLABORATION ON MENSTRUAL HEALTH

By Precious Mupenzi

• Unified Leadership Needed: A single department should lead the menstrual health programme to improve coordination and delivery.
• Economic Empowerment: Women must be included in the menstrual product value chain to benefit from the industry.
• Sustainable Sanitation: Innovative, low-water and eco-friendly sanitation solutions are essential, especially in rural areas.

The Education Indaba on Menstrual Health and Sanitary Dignity held on 30 May 2025 in Sandton, brought together key government departments for a pivotal panel discussion aimed at strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration on menstrual health. Moderated by Ms Precious Magogodi, UNFPA’s Programme Specialist, the panel addressed the roles, responsibilities, and innovative solutions required to end period poverty in South Africa.
Despite the existence of the Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework since 2019, the session highlighted persistent challenges, including fragmented implementation, poor coordination, and inadequate resource tracking—especially in no-fee and rural schools. Parliament has consistently urged stronger interdepartmental collaboration, emphasizing that menstrual health and dignity require a united, multi-sectoral response. This session marked a significant step forward by bringing together eleven departments to align mandates, share initiatives, and work toward a coordinated national strategy focused on the needs of girls and young women.

“We Need All Hands-on Deck”

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Liezl Linda van der Merwe, delivered a compelling address, calling for urgent, unified leadership to end period poverty. Quoting Professor Audre Lorde, she stated: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from mine.”
Van der Merwe painted a stark picture: “Today, countless young women across our country remain shackled—not by choice, but by poverty, stigma, and a system that continues to fail them.” Drawing on oversight findings from across two administrations, she cited systemic inefficiencies, including inconsistent provincial implementation, inactive provincial sanitary dignity committees, supply chain challenges, and budget constraints.

She strongly advocated for consolidating leadership under a single implementing department, criticising the confusion caused by dual leadership between the Basic Education and Social Development departments. She also warned against exclusionary procurement practices and called for ring-fenced funding that reaches its intended beneficiaries.
Public Health, Protection and Prevention
Mr Ramphelane Morewane, Acting DDG for HIV/AIDS, TB, and MCWH at the Department of Health, called menstrual health a public health priority closely tied to sexual and reproductive rights. He urged for a whole-of-society approach, noting that discussions must translate into action across all sectors.

Coordinating the National Agenda

Mr Sipiwo Matshoba from DWYPD highlighted the state’s R827 million investment in sanitary dignity for learners. He acknowledged lingering tensions over departmental leadership, recommending the development of a central, live database to track interventions, improve transparency, and avoid duplication.

Menstrual Health as an Economic Opportunity

Ms Nomvula Makgotlho of the Department of Small Business Development criticized the industry’s failure to include women beyond the consumer level. “Women menstruate but benefit from less than 1% of this economy,” she said, calling for women’s empowerment across the entire value chain—from manufacturing to distribution.
Water, Sanitation and Environmental Concerns
Ms Petunia Ramunenyiwa of the Department of Water and Sanitation linked menstrual dignity to access and infrastructure. She explained how inadequate sanitation systems—exacerbated by improper disposal of sanitary products—threaten both dignity and environmental sustainability. She advocated for alternative sanitation technologies in water-scarce communities and menstrual waste recycling solutions within a circular economy framework.

Data, Access and Social Protection

Ms Desiree Jason from the Department of Social Development outlined a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving access and targeting interventions. She highlighted the development of the National Integrated Social Protection Information System, which integrates education and grant systems to enhance the tracking of sanitary product distribution.
Jason also pointed to good practice models in provinces like the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, where access has expanded to younger girls and women with disabilities have been included in the value chain. However, she warned that universal access remains a significant policy challenge, with many girls still left behind.

The Way Forward: Collaboration and Accountability

As the session drew to a close, Ms Magogodi emphasized the urgency of translating dialogue into action. “This was intended as a government-led conversation, but what we need now are tangible outcomes,” she said. “We must commit to follow-up engagements, clearly defined responsibilities, and an integrated national framework that brings together all sectors—from health and education to civil society.”