Burundi : the cost of sanitary pads, a persistent burden for low-lncome families

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, June 2, 2026 – Following the World Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated on May 28, many Burundian women and parents continue to denounce the high price of sanitary pads, which has become difficult for low-income families to bear.

Currently, a pack of ten sanitary pads costs approximately 5,000 Burundian francs. For some families with several daughters, this expense represents an additional burden in a context where the cost of living continues to rise.

In Buyenzi, in the center of Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital and largest city, a fruit vendor stated that this situation weighs heavily on low-income households.

“It’s difficult today for a family with daughters.” “I’m already struggling to provide for my children, so adding the monthly cost of sanitary pads for my three teenage daughters is just another burden for low-income families like ours,” she explains.

Some of the young women interviewed also indicated that they often have difficulty obtaining sanitary products each month. They believe these products should be accessible to all women, regardless of their income level.

Faced with this reality, many citizens are calling on the Burundian government, through the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR), to lower the taxes levied on sanitary pads in order to reduce their market price.

Others are proposing the implementation of a free sanitary pad distribution program for girls and women from disadvantaged families. According to some citizens, such an initiative could be particularly helpful for pupils in schools.

“The government could distribute sanitary pads in schools, especially to girls from poor families,” suggests a resident of Bujumbura.

For many observers, access to sanitary pads should not be considered a luxury, but an essential need related to the health and dignity of women and girls.