African women's everyday struggles and sacrifices for water

What is period poverty? Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints, also commonly referred to as menstrual health management (MHM). Improving access to menstrual hygiene products (MHP) contributes to the achievement SDG 5 "to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls." However, due to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities (WaSH) in Africa, most women are unable to properly maintain their menstruation needs sufficiently. Most girls rely on close friends and families as their source of information about menstruation and sanitation, rather than a professional health worker. Periods are heavily stigmatised and are associated with shame and taboo in many African societies due to common misinformation on the topic.  Shame and sickness Access to safe and hygienic sanitation products is a serious concern for women and girls in Africa, particularly for those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. For most

" In 80 per cent of households with water shortages, women and girls are responsible for water collection "   " 1 in 10 girls in sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle, which equals as much as 20% of a school year " These statistics are alarming, to say the least. There are so many issues African women and girls face daily just to access water and sanitation facilities. Collecting water, or resorting to open defecation has never been safe for women. As a young woman, who was born in South Asia, but raised in London, I have witnessed first-hand the repercussions of inadequate water and sanitation facilities, including toilet facilities. It is a hardship I have never experienced but is not something I have been sheltered from. Education to me is both a privilege and a right. However, in Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, many girls' education is compromised as it is their prime duty to collect water. Another reason why many girls in Africa