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Tag: Menstrual Hygiene

  • Parnika India launches menstrual hygiene awareness drive

    Parnika India launches menstrual hygiene awareness drive

    Mumbai: Parnika India, a prominent manufacturer and exporter of women’s ethnic wear, has launched a menstrual hygiene awareness drive to support women’s health and empowerment. This initiative addresses the challenges of menstrual hygiene in rural and underprivileged communities, where access to affordable and hygienic sanitary products is a critical issue.

    As part of this campaign, Parnika India is offering customers who make purchases of ₹20,000 or more a unique opportunity to directly contribute to this cause. With every such purchase, customers receive 15 sustainable sanitary pads, which they are encouraged to distribute to women and girls from underserved areas. This initiative not only provides much-needed sanitary products but also empowers Parnika’s customers to become advocates for menstrual hygiene and break down the taboos associated with menstruation.

    Reflecting on the motivation behind the campaign, Parnika India director Vishal Pacheriwal stated, “At Parnika India, we have always believed that businesses have a responsibility to create meaningful, lasting change in society. The issue of menstrual hygiene, particularly in rural and underprivileged areas, is one that affects not just the health but also the dignity and opportunities available to women. With this awareness drive, we are stepping up to address this critical challenge by providing sustainable sanitary products and raising awareness about menstrual hygiene.”

    The initiative has already made a considerable impact, with nearly 500,000 sanitary napkins distributed so far. By engaging both their customers and communities, Parnika India hopes to spark a larger movement toward improving menstrual health and reducing the stigma surrounding it.

    Though the drive is currently an in-house effort with no external partnerships, Parnika India is committed to continuing this initiative and expanding it in the future, reflecting the brand’s broader mission of empowering women and giving back to the community.

    Parnika India’s dedication to empowering women goes beyond the scope of its sanitary pad initiative. The company has been actively supporting women by creating entrepreneurial opportunities and providing guidance to those aspiring to start their own small businesses. Parnika India understands the challenges that women, particularly those working from home or in rural areas, face. Through its programs, the company offers mentorship on starting and running businesses, helping women navigate their local markets, and guiding them in becoming financially independent.

  • Breaking menstrual taboos: How society is evolving

    Breaking menstrual taboos: How society is evolving

    Menstrual hygiene is an indispensable aspect of women’s health, yet it remains clouded by stigma, taboos and misinformation. There is a critical need to start the conversation without any shame and initiate awareness programs on menstrual hygiene to break taboos, promote good hygiene and empower women.

    The impact of Menstrual Taboos and Stigma can lead to differences in health, education, and social equality. In many regions, menstruation is believed to be impure or shameful, resulting in exclusion from society. Some regions ask women to use separate spaces like “menstrual huts,” not allowing them to enter the kitchen or holy places, completely isolating women and increasing their vulnerability.

    These restrictions cause a lack of communication leading to an unfavorable environment for women. From an economic standpoint, menstrual taboos lead to restricted availability of menstrual hygiene products. In tier two & three cities, with a lack of knowledge and availability of menstrual products, women resort to unhealthy choices, resulting in severe health problems and vaginal infections. In tier one cities, while menstrual products may be more accessible, the stigma still prevents many from seeking necessary medical care resulting in untreated health problems that also affect the mental health of women.

    “We believe that breaking taboos is essential for achieving gender equality and empowering menstruators. We can create a more supportive and understanding society by providing education and access to healthy and innovative menstrual hygiene products. Our initiative to break taboos is about empowering women to reject stereotypes and embrace their true potential” – Sirona.

    Here are some key strategies contributing to the positive evolution of menstrual hygiene awareness:

    1. Awareness campaigns: Through a variety of campaigns, Sirona Hygiene constantly seeks to change the conversation on menstruation by organizing training sessions with school, college, corporate, underprivileged areas. This Menstrual Hygiene Day (28 May), Sirona encouraged everyone to join “TheBloodyConversation” to normalize periods and break down the taboos around periods especially among men, emphasizing the importance of unfiltered, open dialogue.

    2. Leveraging technology: The way we communicate knowledge about menstrual hygiene is being revolutionized by technology. Apps, websites, and social media platforms are now pivotal in educating and connecting menstruating individuals, making crucial information more accessible and fostering supportive communities. Smart menstrual cups and period monitoring apps are just a few of the Technology advancements that are transforming how women handle their menstrual periods.

    3. Men as role models & fostering open dialogue: It is important to promote a more informed, empathetic, and equitable society where menstrual health is understood and supported. When it comes to periods, there is often a lack of awareness among men, making it crucial to have open and comfortable conversations about menstrual health. Men can play a significant role as role models in this regard. By openly discussing and supporting menstrual hygiene, men can help break down stigma and promote understanding. This can lead to more empathetic attitudes and behaviors towards women, creating a supportive environment.

    4. Promote policy change: Advocacy for inclusive policies that support menstrual health is vital. Policies should ensure access to menstrual products, education, and facilities in public spaces, schools, and workplaces. Policymakers can address the issue of menstrual hygiene through training programs, campaigns and free distribution of Sanitary pads and menstrual cups in both urban (for the underprivileged women) and rural India.

    By implementing these strategies, society can make significant strides towards breaking the taboos and promoting menstrual hygiene awareness. Empowering individuals with knowledge and resources leading to healthier, more confident, and equitable communities. Let’s continue to support and advance these efforts to create a future where menstrual hygiene is understood, accepted, and prioritised.

    The article has been authored by Sirona Hygiene’s head of marketing Anika Wadhera.

  • Bombay Shaving Company Women launches digital campaign #SayYesToTheCup

    Bombay Shaving Company Women launches digital campaign #SayYesToTheCup

    Mumbai: Bombay Shaving Company Women (BSC Women) has launched a bold & riveting digital campaign #SayYesToTheCup to drive awareness for menstrual cups and bring attention to sustainable menstrual choices. In the form of a rap battle, the campaign film dramatizes the benefits of using a menstrual cup versus more common forms of menstrual hygiene such as sanitary pads, thereby encouraging women to switch to comfortable & easy-to-use menstrual cups.

    Two crews, representing the BSC Women menstrual cup and pad, battle it out, pitting the typical reactions of conventional sanitary products against the factual benefits of using menstrual cups.

    Engaging and fun, the campaign film opens with a typical day at the office when a woman suddenly realizes she is on her period and her two colleagues aka pad-academic & cup-a-holic seem clearly interested to onboard her onto their respective crew. From there, the film transitions into an epic rap battle between the two crews and with the cup convincing the viewer to #SayYesToTheCup.

    The campaign #SayYesToTheCup kicked off from 28 May 2022, which is marked as Menstrual Hygiene Day. But true to the brand’s personality of being bold, quirky and expressive, this movement is not restricted to a day.

    Elaborating on the thought behind the campaign, Bombay Shaving Company Women chief business officer Siddha Jain said, “We believe in changing the game of how women’s hair removal and hygiene is perceived in India, and this is a movement towards our vision. Being a cup veteran and promoter myself, my team & I have carefully crafted the perfect cup for all humans who menstruate. Ultimately choosing the right sanitary product is really personal: we’d just like to make sure that choice is made knowing the facts. Staging a rap battle was a playful way to present some of the reservations about using the menstrual cup that we hear, alongside the benefits that cup users enjoy – in the end, as ever, it’s down to the viewer to pick their ‘crew’. But we will definitely be always on about menstrual cup awareness and convince you to #SayYesToTheCup.”