Zambia: Interview: Excluding men and boys in menstrual health

In many cultures, menstruation remains a taboo subject, often concealed due to long-standing cultural, historical, and religious beliefs that wrongly associate it with shame or uncleanliness. Speaking in an interview with KBN TV News, Pad-A-Girl Campaign Founder Estro Meleki says excluding men and boys from conversations around menstrual health limits their ability to effectively support women and girls. 

Meleki explains that the organization’s annual reach depends largely on available resources and the number of schools and communities engaged, but notes that plans are underway to expand operations in 2026. He further reveals that schools where the program has been implemented consistently have reported reduced absenteeism among girls, particularly during menstruation.

Reporting by Patricia Chilambikwa. This special feature, produced by KBN Television, is part of the Media Parity Capacity Building Programme and shared as part of the programme series.