MHD Spotlight: Zambia’s Mother’s Day Policy—A Model for Period Dignity Across Africa🩸

Him: Yasmine, why are you so quiet today? This is so unlike you. Tell me what's wrong?

Me: My unfertilized ovum was absorbed, and now my uterine lining is shedding, yet I'm at school listening to you.

Him: 😳 I'm sorry...

Even at 15, I was gagging people

Yup, this is a real conversation I had with a male friend nearly 20 years ago.

We had just learned about the reproductive system and menstruation in our Form 4 Biology class, and I was too pressed not to use it. That was the moment that radicalized me to openly talk about periods no matter who or what you are.

Today is Menstrual Hygiene Day! #MenstruationMatters

This year’s theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” calls for collective action to eliminate stigma and ensure universal access to menstrual health products, education, and supportive infrastructure.

Menstrual Hygiene Day was founded in 2013 by German NGO: WASH United and first commemorated the following year in 2014. May 28 was no accident: a typical period lasts around 5 days (May = 5th month), and the average cycle is 28 days - get it?

You know who else got it? All the boys in my class, because every month in class best believe I would talk about menstruation to anyone who would listen. 2007 was a year 😏

But let's fast forward a little to the year 2015 to the southeastern country of Zambia.

In 2015 - 10 years ago, Zambia took the bold step to enact a menstrual leave policy called "Mother's Day". Despite its name, the policy isn’t only for mothers. It's a policy that allows female workers to take a discretionary day off once a month with no prior notice or medical proof. It has now become a part of their labor laws as of 2019 and employers can be sued if action is taken against them and it has been investigated that they are depriving employees of this right.

I had the pleasure of having a virtual sit down with Susan Mwape, Executive Director of Common Cause Zambia. At her organization which contributes to good governance in Zambia through sustained community engagements and participation in governance practices and systems, Susan makes it a point of duty to educate both women and men about the importance of Mother's Day and raise awareness among female employees who may not be fully exercising this right:

Susan Mwape, Executive Director of Common Cause Zambia.

"As an employer myself, I recently had a young lady join our organization. One day, I got a message around 10:00am from her stating that she wasn't feeling very well..." - Susan Mwape.

Though Susan didn't know what was affecting her staff member at the time, she decided to give her a day off as there weren't pressing matters to attend to at the office that day.

Some time passes, and she and this same staff member were having a discussion about menstruation and she mentioned how horrific her period cycles are and that she sometimes faints due to the pain and heavy flow of her period. She is only 23.

"I was so shocked." explains Susan. "She told me her mom advised to her to power through and go to work even when she wasn't feeling well as she just got this job so that she won't get fired. I was appalled."

After this discussion, Susan had a heart to heart with her staff member and told her under no circumstances will she fire someone if they miss work due to menstruation. As they spoke, Susan realized her staff member was describing Dysmenorrhea - also known as period pains and cramps, which in severe cases can cause fainting, dizziness, nausea, and a range of other symptoms. She also learned that her staff member and her mother both experience fainting and extreme pain during their monthly cycles. Susan saw this as a teaching moment and took the opportunity to educate her about Zambia’s menstrual leave policy, known as Mother’s Day.

Although Susan admits she’s heard of women facing pushback from employers when it comes to declaring Mother's Day prior to their one day off, she emphasizes that the policy is legally binding and she hasn't heard of anyone being flat out denied.

Me: Has Mother’s Day helped reduce menstrual stigma in the workplace or in broader society?

Susan: Yes to a large extent I believe it has helped to reduce menstrual stigma in everyday and life and at work however in some work places I understand men have complained that they weren't given sufficient notice and this would sometimes affect project timelines especially for those working in the development sector. But women have pushed back stating that sometimes periods do come at a moment's notice and it is their right to take off one day a month if the need arises. This has allowed for open conversations around menstrual hygiene to occur and encouraged male involvement which has also led to reducing stigma in the workplace.

Today, Zambia remains the only African country where menstrual leave is legally protected for female workers. With this decade long policy, which informally dates back to the 1990s, when it was practiced in some settings but hadn't reached its peak and awareness such as today, there are other factors still preventing women and girls from living in dignity while on their periods.

"Lusaka is expensive, and that’s reflected in the price of menstrual products. Not every woman and girl can afford menstrual sanitary pads. One thing I would like to see happen in Zambia is a mass reduction or free pads. Condoms are free, why are pads not free?" Susan Mwape says.

I have been shouting this for years because sex is a choice and menstruation isn't... 🤔. There goes that nasty Pa Patriarchy doing his big thing walking hand in hand with Cousin Capitalism to bring on ⚡pink tax ⚡.

Susan also emphasized the need for information to be more readily accessible, though menstruation and the reproductive system is taught in schools, more can be done to reduce the stigma and the taboo so more people know about Mother's Day before they enter the workforce.

I can only sigh and scratch my head as our mates in Zambia have a menstrual policy and the rest of Africa is not quite there.

So how can the rest of Africa catch up? Start by:

• Sensitizing and destigmatizing the 'taboo' of periods and menstrual hygiene management.

• Having robust comprehensive sexual education curriculums mainstreamed into schools.

• Removing all taxes on menstrual hygiene products.

• Distributing menstrual hygiene products for those in need.

Zambia’s Mother’s Day policy is more than just a workplace benefit, it’s a public declaration that periods are normal, real, and deserving of dignity. But menstrual justice doesn’t end with legislation. Access to affordable products, education, and open dialogue must follow. If Zambia can lead the way in policy, imagine what Africa could do- together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.