Bridging the gap: access to menstrual products
Published on 2023-05-30 08:12:54Aakar Innovations

Bridging the gap: access to menstrual products

Health day

Amsterdam, 30 May 2023 – World Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed on May 28th each year, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of menstrual hygiene management and the significant impact it has on the lives of women and girls worldwide. The day aims to raise awareness, break stigmas, and foster a supportive environment where women and girls can confidently manage their menstrual health. By shedding light on this fundamental aspect of women's well-being, we can work towards a more equitable and inclusive society. Access to menstrual products is key to improving menstrual health and hygiene. However, millions of women and adolescent girls worldwide do not have access to these products or simply can’t afford them.

Anandi pad and our goals

Last year, on International Women’s Day we launched our partnership with Aakar Innovations. Through this partnership we are supplying the Anandi pad, in three different sizes to suit everyone’s specific needs. The Anandi pad is almost fully compostable, and free of any toxic additives. Each Anandi pad is produced in a ‘women supervised’ and ‘women employed’ mini-factory, Providing local job opportunities for women, while teaching them entrepreneurial and marketing skills. This partnership is in line with our three long-term goals being Universal Health Coverage, as we believe that those who need it should have access to safe menstrual products, working with a partner that offers job opportunities for local women adds to Strengthened Local Capacity, and as the Anandi pad is compostable and eco-certified it doesn’t have an added negative impact on the environment, in line with our goal of building Sustainable Value Chains.

For the launch of this partnership, we made a video about the Anandi pads. Watch the video here, or on our YouTube channel.

The Anandi pad is part of our reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health portfolio, more information about this product and other products in that range, can be found on our RMNCH page.