MHM KITS

The Pad Programme is providing menstrual hygiene management kits to girls and women in schools and communities, and they are divided into three categories namely;

Dignity Emergency Kit (DEK)
Hygiene Kit (HK)
Menstrual Hygiene Management Kit (MHMK)

Different kits have different target groups and different purposes, as well as different timeframes for use (for example; how long the items last for) and different distribution mechanisms.

Dignity Emergency Kits (DEK)

Dignity Emergency Kits are first and foremost designed to promote dignity, DEK kits are designed for people who experience sudden or unexpected periods (sudden vaginal discharge), period blood leakage and people with incontinence. Sanitary items in dignity emergency kits (are limited to standard sanitary pads and underwear and they are accessible by girls and women in schools and communities and whose who come to our offices in such kind of emergency.

Hygiene Kits (HK)

Hygiene Kits are generally designed to promote menstrual hygiene (MH) in schools, communities and in sudden onset disaster or emergency. Providing girls and women with the necessary sanitary items they need to stay clean, fresh and comfortable when on their periods. When girls receive hygiene kits, this helps them to stay in school, comfortable and focused on their education.

Hygiene kits help women living in extreme poverty to manage their periods, safely and in dignity this enables them to focus on development opportunities around them.

Sanitary items in hygiene kits are limited to sanitary pads (reusable and non-reusable), laundry soap and underwear.

Menstrual Hygiene Management Kit (MHM)

Menstrual hygiene management kits are designed to meet MHM needs of women and girls, and are designed following consultation and culturally specific needs. MHM kits can be pre-positioned and distributed in the first phase because MHM kits effectively address MHM needs.

The Pad Programme MHM kits include the following items;

Sanitary Pads (Reusable and Non-reusable)
Underwear
Laundry soap.
Bucket with a lid (for washing.)
Pouch/bag, (non-transparent and leakproof), it is an important part of MHM kits for keeping spare sanitary items and underwear.
Additional cloth may be used as backup method, to cover stained clothes or for covering pads/underwear drying on a clothesline to enhance to privacy.
Rope (clothesline) for hanging washed reusable sanitary pads and underwear.
Pegs, to hold sanitary items hanged on the rope while drying and after drying.

MHM information book, this include information on use, care and disposal of menstrual items (for example; how to wash, dry and dispose of used sanitary items) and practical information on how to stay healthy and what the menstruation process is. Women and girls have incorrect information and cultural beliefs on use and care of menstrual items.

MHM KIT TOP-UP STRATEGY

MHM kits items like including disposal pads, menstrual cloth, laundry soap; all consumables need a top-up so that women and girls have a continuous access to the basic menstrual hygiene items they need.

Disposable sanitary pads, these are used up quickly and a top-up of disposable sanitary pads per month is considered.
Reusable sanitary pads, these won out generally in a period of 3-6-12 months or depending on the quality of cloth used, for The Pad Programme a six months top-up of cloth pads is considered.
Laundry soap these are used up quickly for The Pad Programme a monthly top-up is considered.

MHM KITS DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

MHM kits are to be distributed in schools and communities to meet several of the menstrual hygiene management needs of women and girls. Our MHM kits includes pads and underwear, essential items to support washing, drying and disposal, and information on use and care of menstrual items.

And a complete Pad Programme MHM kits received by girls and women include;

2 underwear
1 sachet of non-reusable sanitary pads
4 cloth pads
6 pegs
1 plastic bucket
1 laundry bar soap (600 grams)
5 meters of rope
2 to 4 meters of additional cloth.
MHM information book