Period poverty significantly impacts women and girls across Africa, manifesting as a lack of access to safe, hygienic menstrual products, and comprehensive menstrual education. This issue is compounded by stigma and inadequate hygiene facilities, leading to serious health, education, and economic consequences.

One widely cited statistic from UNESCO indicates that 1 in 10 girls in Africa misses school due to not having access to menstrual products or adequate sanitation facilities. Some of these girls eventually drop out of school entirely, which exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and diminishes their future economic opportunities. In Nigeria for example, the inability to afford sanitary products has led to the use of unhealthy alternatives like foam, cloth strips, newspapers, and rags, exposing girls to infections and health risks such as reproductive and urinary tract infections, which could result in future fertility issues and birth complications.

In Kenya, the lack of affordable sanitary pads has driven some women and girls to engage in transactional sex to obtain these necessary items, increasing the risk of teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and STDs. Meanwhile, in South Africa, it's reported that adolescent girls can miss up to five days of school each month due to menstruation. The issue is also tied to cultural beliefs in some places, like Namibia, where menstruation is stigmatized, leading girls to feel ashamed during their periods.

Efforts to combat period poverty in Africa include the work of various organizations. For instance, in Ghana, Eco-Me Africa was founded by a schoolteacher who noticed her female students frequently missing school due to period poverty, leading to the creation of a reusable sanitary pad production facility offering products for free. Similarly, in South Sudan, the Arise Africa organization is working to open the first-ever menstrual health center in Juba to facilitate conversations about sexual and reproductive health and provide women and girls with sanitary pads.

The fight against period poverty is not only a matter of providing menstrual products but also involves educating girls and communities about menstrual health, challenging stigmas, and ensuring that girls can manage their menstruation safely and with dignity. This is a critical step towards achieving gender equality and ensuring the health and wellbeing of adolescent girls across the continent.