Contents

Previous artcle

4IR solutions
for women by women

If the people who experience certain challenges are the same people who develop solutions to address these challenges, then the solutions are much more likely to be impactful and sustainable. Just ask the women who are coming up with ways to solve problems that affect women directly – women like Pia Findlay.
In recent years, Pia, one of UJ’s emerging researchers and an MA graduate from the Department of Industrial Design, took it upon herself to develop a new menstrual hygiene product that will help girls and women across South Africa.

DISPOSABLE
SANITARY PAD

Waste
Cost
Health risks
Accessibility
Culturally appropriate

DISPOSABLE
TAMPONS

Waste
Cost
Health risks
Accessibility
Culturally appropriate

REUSABLE
MENSTRUAL CUP

Waste
Cost
Health risks
Accessibility
Culturally appropriate

REUSABLE FABRIC
SANITARY PAD

Waste
Cost
Health risks
Accessibility
Culturally appropriate
The patent for Pia’s product has recently been filed through UJ’s Technology Transfer Office.
“My research is on menstrual health, specifically in South Africa, and the issues that exist around it,” says Pia. “And my innovation is a reusable menstrual pad that has the same benefits as a menstrual cup. The menstrual cup is very cost effective, it’s environmentally friendly, and it’s easy to clean, but the biggest problem with it is that there is a lot of taboo around inserting menstrual products among cultures in South Africa. I’ve therefore developed a sanitary pad version that overcomes this taboo.”
The issues that this product could address, however, go beyond menstruation itself. Many schoolgirls miss school when they menstruate because they don’t have adequate products on hand. As they miss more school work month after month, they are more likely to fall behind and ultimately drop out. Pia’s reusable sanitary pad could have a huge impact on the future academic and professional success of young women, individuals who might go on to become the next generation of 4IR leaders.

Thank you. You have reached the end of Issue 7 of Beyond Imagining

Read another issue of Beyond Imagining
Download Issue 7 as PDF

Contents

Previous artcle