Is it time to make sanitary products free?

For many women across the continent, being unable to buy sanitary products every month means missing school or work.

That’s what experts call “period poverty”.

African governments are aware of the problem: Kenya was the first country to cut down taxes on sanitary products back in 2004.

Earlier this month, Ethiopia followed suit, reducing taxes from 30% to 10%.

But some women’s rights groups say tax cuts aren’t the way to go – they doubt the end-consumer will actually feel any changes in price.

They also say that, before anything else, taboos need to be broken and mentalities changed.

Do they have a point? What will it take to stamp out period poverty?

That’s what I’ve been looking at for today’s episode of the Africa Daily podcast.