A furious public outcry has erupted in Senegal over allegations that a leading Chinese manufacturer, Softcare, has been using expired raw materials to produce sanitary pads and diapers. The scandal has exposed a terrifying breach of trust in the most intimate of consumer products, pitting corporate profit against public health.

The controversy began when the Senegalese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ARP) accused Softcare (a subsidiary of Sunda International) of possessing 1,300kg of expired polyethylene film. The regulator initially ordered a market withdrawal, only to inexplicably backtrack days later, claiming the expired materials were not used in production. This flip-flop has only fueled the fire, with citizens reporting itching and infections after using the products.

Betrayal of Women

The "So What?" is the systemic negligence of women’s health in the pursuit of cheap manufacturing. Opposition MP Guy Marius Sagna has led the charge, accusing the Health Minister of a "complicit silence." "Enough is enough!" he thundered at a rally, echoing the anger of thousands of women who feel unprotected by their own government. The allegation is that the global south is being treated as a dumping ground for substandard materials that would never pass muster in Beijing or Paris.

Sunda International, a giant with operations across Africa including Kenya and Ghana, denies the claims. But the damage is done. The sight of a regulator clearing a company it had just indicted reeks of corruption and cover-ups. The doctors' union has warned that using such materials can cause severe allergies and infections, turning a basic hygiene necessity into a health hazard.

• The Accusation: Possession and alleged use of expired raw materials for pads and diapers.
• The Symptoms: Consumers reporting skin irritation, itching, and infections.
• The Backtrack: The regulator's suspicious reversal of the recall order has triggered demands for an independent investigation.

A Continental Warning

This is not just a Senegalese problem; it is an African one. Softcare products line the shelves of supermarkets from Nairobi to Lagos. If the production line in Dakar is compromised, what about the others? The scandal in Senegal is a wake-up call for standards bureaus across the continent.

As anger mounts, the demand is simple: dignity and safety. No woman should have to risk her health to manage her period. The silence of the authorities is deafening, but the screams of the victims are finally being heard.