Description of Challenge
Millions of women in developing countries regularly miss up to 50 days of school and/or work each year as a result of their lack of access to affordable sanitary pads while menstruating because they are unable to afford factory made sanitary pads. For example in Rwanda, of the girls who miss school, 36% are absent because pads are too expensive. As an alternative, these girls are forced to turn to rags, bark, and even mud.Manual for making female sanitation pads from banana tree trunk. Including a list of alternative natural materials that may be used instead.
Solution
The link below directts to a text descibing the simplest process for utilizing the absorbent properties of banana fibres. This process is very inexpensive as it requires minimal refinement and preparation of the fibres and therefore does not require any additional materials or machinery.