MakaPads Sanitary Pads

Moses Musaazi, Technology for Tomorrow Ltd.

MakaPads are biodegradable sanitary pads made in Africa from papyrus reeds.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

MakaPads are biodegradable sanitary pads made in Africa from papyrus reeds. They are the only trademarked biodegradable sanitary pads made in Africa.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Africa, specifically Uganda and Sierra Leone.

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Technology for Tomorrow Ltd. (t4t)

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

0.6 USD for a normal absorbency and 0.68 USD for super absorbency pack of 10 pads

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Commercial menstrual pads – there are over 32 brands of sanitary pads currently sold in Uganda, traditional methods (ex. reusable cloth)

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Women, girls, housewives, working women, students, women in refugee camps

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Mass produced at three MakaPad factories in Kawempe-Kampala, Soroti district and Kyaaka II refugee settlement in Mubende district in Uganda. Production, by design, is largely manual so as to offer employment. Over 70% of production cost is labor. The three factories can produce half a million pads every month.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trademarked product. It is a subsidiary part of the registered company Technology for Tomorrow Ltd, (T4T), founded by Dr. Musaazi.

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Relief agencies and humanitarian organizations (ex. UNHCR) can acquire the MakaPads directly from the manufacturer. Makapads are delivered in Kampala within 3-10 days after 100% down payment. MakaPads can be delivered in 100 packet boxes, anywhere in East Africa; extra shipping costs apply.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

UNHCR buys 2,200,000 MakaPads from T4T annually since 2011. According to staff, at least 200,000 women are using MakaPads every month.

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Absorbency types

Normal and super

Absorbent base materials

Papyrus reed

Usability Features

Can be purchased with or without an adhesive

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

MakaPads are made from papyrus and paper waste and are chemical free. The papyrus fibers are beaten, dried and softened manually. They are assembled with a moisture barrier and mesh covering. One pad can be used for 8 to 10 hours. MakaPads can be purchased with or without an adhesive that slips into knickers with special elastics to hold the pad in place.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by manufacturer

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

None

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Single use product

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

One pad can be used for 8 to 10 hours. Available in regular and super absorbency. MakaPads are 95% biodegradable.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Performance vetted by several national, regional and international agencies including Ugandan Bureau of Standards. For a pad to meet international standards, it must have at least four minimum attributes. It must have a separate absorbent layer, be wrapped in a non-woven material, have a plastic piece to prevent accidents, and have stickers to hold it.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Makere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Uganda National Bureau of Standards.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Pad should not be used beyond the recommended time period of 8 to 10 hours.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Study on menstrual management in Uganda., Aug. 2013.

J. Hennegan, C. Dolan, M. Wu, L. Scott, and P. Montgomery, Schoolgirls’ experience and appraisal of menstrual absorbents in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional evaluation of reusable sanitary pads. Reprod. Health, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1–12, Dec. 2016, doi: 10.1186/s12978-016-0260-7.

G. Miiro et al., Menstrual health and school absenteeism among adolescent girls in Uganda (MENISCUS): A feasibility study. BMC Womens. Health, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1–13, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1186/s12905-017-0502-z.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Field trials

Other information

MakaPads are a Second Prize Winner of the empowering people award

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

MakaPads are biodegradable sanitary pads made in Africa from papyrus reeds. They are the only trademarked biodegradable sanitary pads made in Africa.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Africa, specifically Uganda and Sierra Leone.

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Technology for Tomorrow Ltd. (t4t)

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

0.6 USD for a normal absorbency and 0.68 USD for super absorbency pack of 10 pads

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Commercial menstrual pads – there are over 32 brands of sanitary pads currently sold in Uganda, traditional methods (ex. reusable cloth)

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Women, girls, housewives, working women, students, women in refugee camps

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trademarked product. It is a subsidiary part of the registered company Technology for Tomorrow Ltd, (T4T), founded by Dr. Musaazi.

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

UNHCR buys 2,200,000 MakaPads from T4T annually since 2011. According to staff, at least 200,000 women are using MakaPads every month.

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Absorbency types

Normal and super

Absorbent base materials

Papyrus reed

Usability Features

Can be purchased with or without an adhesive

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by manufacturer

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

None

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Single use product

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

One pad can be used for 8 to 10 hours. Available in regular and super absorbency. MakaPads are 95% biodegradable.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Makere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Uganda National Bureau of Standards.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Pad should not be used beyond the recommended time period of 8 to 10 hours.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Study on menstrual management in Uganda., Aug. 2013.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Field trials

Other information

MakaPads are a Second Prize Winner of the empowering people award

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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MakaPads Sanitary Pads

Moses Musaazi, Technology for Tomorrow Ltd.

In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors