A greater push is also needed for menstruation and menopausal support in the workplace, alongside broader efforts to address women’s health gaps.
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) recently launched ISO 45010 (Occupational health and safety management — Menstruation and menopause in the workplace — Guidance), the world’s first International standard designed to help organisations better support employees experiencing menstruation and menopause at work.
At the inaugural Women’s Health Matters Conference, held at the Gibs Business School in Johannesburg, sponsor Spar placed a special focus on period poverty, building on wider discussions on women’s health.
Mpudi Maubane, national PR, communications and sponsorship manager at Spar, led a session titled “Period Poverty: Dignity Should Not Depend on Income.”
“Period poverty extends far beyond access to menstrual products. When girls and women are unable to manage menstruation safely and with dignity, it affects school attendance, workplace participation, confidence and future opportunities,” says Maubane.
“Addressing this challenge requires solutions that combine access, education and sustained partnerships to ensure that menstruation never becomes a barrier to full participation in society,” she continues.
Following the conference, Maubane spoke to Bizcommunity about the need for menstrual leave, inclusive women’s health, and the challenges facing women’s health in South Africa.
Women and girls should be able to learn, work, lead, play sport and contribute to their communities and the economy with dignity and the right support at every stage of life.
When health needs are ignored, access is limited, and stigma prevents women from seeking help, the impact goes beyond health – it can affect education, employment, confidence and access to opportunities.
At Spar, we believe that awareness must lead to action that removes these barriers and enables women to participate fully in everyday life.
The challenges are complex and interconnected.
They include affordability, access to information and healthcare, stigma, inadequate facilities and the reality that many women still must navigate their health needs around demanding work, family and financial pressures. Period poverty is one example.
It is not only about access to menstrual products, but also about education, water, sanitation, privacy and being able to manage a period without missing school, work or other opportunities.
There is no single solution.
Progress requires government, business, healthcare providers, workplaces, communities and civil society to work together.
Spar believes business can play a practical role by using its reach, affordability, partnerships and platforms to help turn concern into access and action.
The starting point is to create workplaces where women can talk about their health without shame or fear of judgment.
Employers should listen to women, make credible information and support easy to access, ensure appropriate facilities, and address practical barriers that may affect participation and productivity.
Workplace policies also need to evolve with the realities women face today.
This means reviewing policies on menstruation, maternity, menopause, flexible working, and wellbeing, while ensuring organisational values and culture genuinely support dignity, inclusion, and women’s ability to contribute and progress at every stage of life.
Leaders and first points of contact also need to be equipped to respond with empathy, protect confidentiality and refer employees appropriately.
The aim is not to treat every woman the same but to create an environment flexible enough to recognise that different women may need different forms of support at different stages of their lives.
Yes, menstruating people deserve special leave. Women experience their periods differently, and for some, menstruation can have a significant impact on their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Some women experience heavy menstrual flow, requiring frequent bathroom visits and regular changes of sanitary products.
Others experience severe cramps, fatigue or other physical discomfort.
For some, the emotional and hormonal effects of menstruation can be overwhelming, particularly when combined with the pressures and demands of the workplace. In some cases, these experiences can affect a person’s ability to perform at their best.
We should recognise that periods are not a one-size-fits-all experience.
Providing special leave would give menstruating people the opportunity to attend to their health and wellbeing when they need to, recover with dignity, and return to work when they can participate and perform at their best.
For me, this is ultimately about creating more compassionate and inclusive workplaces that acknowledge the realities women face and support them accordingly.
No one should be expected to suffer in silence or compromise their wellbeing simply because they are menstruating.
Improving health outcomes requires genuine partnership and a shared focus on access.
Public systems bring essential reach and population-level healthcare services, while the private sector can contribute resources, innovation, expertise, communication and community platforms.
The key is continuity and clear roles. Partnerships should make it easier for people to access credible information, products, services and appropriate referrals, rather than creating once-off awareness moments.
Importantly, support must be inclusive and respectful of the different realities and needs of all women, including trans women.
Measure progress by whether people can access care and participate in life with greater safety and dignity.
Every woman should listen to her body and ask for support when something doesn’t feel right.
You should never feel ashamed to ask questions, seek credible information or speak up about your health. Access to information, care and support should not be treated as a privilege.
Women are often expected to keep going, even when they are unwell or uncertain about what they are experiencing. Asking questions, seeking medical advice and getting the right support are not signs of weakness; they are part of taking ownership of your health and wellbeing.
Your health should never come at the expense of your education, career, confidence or ability to participate fully in life.
Every woman deserves access to the information, care and practical support she needs to thrive.
The broader message is that awareness must lead somewhere meaningful: to information, access, care and practical support.
No woman should lose education, opportunity or participation because her health needs are ignored or because support is out of reach.
