Menstrual Health Matters

Healthy Periods Initiative, Global (HPI): Improving Health, Creating Livelihoods. 

HPI GLOBAL, a Women’s Global Empowerment Fund Project

Just imagine trying to attend school and you have no access to sanitary products. Imagine having limited access to water for cleanliness. Imagine attending a school with a single latrine for all the students, or that the latrine is smelly, with no toilet paper and the door no longer closes. Just imagine attending one of these schools when you have your period.

 Approximately 70% of reproductive diseases are caused by poor menstrual hygiene.  In lower income countries, and areas where there is a lack of access to sanitation and water, menstruation is significantly more challenging to manage hygienically and with dignity.  Due to the lack of access and affordability of sanitary products, women and girls often use cloth, leaves, mattress stuffing, and other ineffective and unsafe materials.  These materials are unhygienic, uncomfortable, ineffective and unacceptable. Period.

HPI Global is a project of the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund (WGEF) building on their successful Healthy Periods Initiative (HPI) headquartered in Gulu, Uganda.  WGEF purchased a single machine capable of manufacturing wood pulp and banana leaves into healthy, Lucky Girl sanitary pads.  Through the Healthy Periods Initiative, these pads are available free of charge to women in 3 S. Sudanese refugee settlements. These three settlements host 60,000 people, of whom 72% are females between the ages of nine and 18 years old.  Beginning in April of 2017, WGEF’s HPI has provided over 1 million locally made sanitary pads to school girls and women, including critical information on menstrual health. In addition, we partner with Gulu University Medical School to answer and address concerns.   

 With the launch of HPI Global, WGEF is expanding the Healthy Periods Initiative, creating local manufacturing centers. Our goal is to have five machines in five centers operating in sub-Saharan Africa over the next seven years. Our first expansion center will be in Lwengo District, southwestern Uganda. Lwengo District has a population of 281,400 people of which 36% are school age girls. By producing products locally, we aim to create local economies; providing resources and economic opportunities to women and communities thru manufacturing and microenterprise. This will enable a sustainable, efficient process supported at the grassroots level.

 Our strategy is to create a local economy and supply chain that can deliver sanitary products to the most vulnerable populations at little to no cost: school girls, refugees, displaced persons, and those who lack access to affordable products. Each center will assess and determine a philanthropic strategy to serve the specific community. A percentage of product produced will given to identified programs and households every month to ensure women and girls have what they need to manage their menstrual health with dignity, enabling girls to stay in school longer, creating opportunities and empowerment for a more equitable future. 

It's about dignity, PERIOD.

The Healthy Periods Initiative uses 3 basic machines recently developed in India by a man concerned with his wife's health and became committed to women's menstrual health issues. Our intention is to improve upon the basic machine design thru best engineering, technology, and logistical practices, making out program unique and relevant. 

In addition, we will use technology to add an education component, enabling school girls and others to learn thru interactive activities and interactions with HPI Global staff using mobile applications, video, animation expression, etc. The education and outreach component to this project will be key to increasing outcomes. 

HPI Global will utilize technology to manage supply chain and production. Technology will enable HPI to upgrade from a paper based system to a system which accurately tracks inventory, tracking finished and delivered products, supporting consistent communication. 

Education is a critical component of HPI and technology will serve as an important, interactive tool for educators when going into the community/schools. Applications will be used to sensitize and inform girls/women on menstrual health.

In addition, HPI Global will utilize technology to engage with communities, and stakeholders. This will enable a full and relevant conversation about equality, dignity and health.  

In the next 12 months, HPI Global will: 

1.Fall of 2018, HPI Global will open its first production centre in Lowengo, Uganda. This centre will serve as a pilot and allow us to learn and create before going into our next centre in another country. 

2.We will begin the search for our second location, along with the never-ending search for funding.

3. Assess the impact of the current and original HPI centre in Gulu, Uganda; looking at specific outcomes such as: girls staying in school longer, self esteem, health, work attendance impact and affordability/access. 

Our vision is to open 5 centres in 5 countries in 5 years. This will enable tens of thousands of women and girls to benefit from the economic, educational, and social impacts of HPI Global. Schoolgirls where the centres will be located will have the product, information and support they need to stay in school and feel pride in their bodies and health. 

Women will experience and liaison with HPI Global in several ways. Whether thru education, support, microfinance or employment, HPI Global will be a force for women's health on the ground, in the communities, and wider region. 

Using technology creatively will enable HPI to reach and serve communities in new and relevant ways; creating local supply chain for production and delivery, education and outreach. Each centre will have a sustainability component thru microenterprise and product sales but is important to note that areas targeted are very poor with most residents living on less than $1.25 per day. HPI Global and WGEF believe that women and girls should never have to choose between food or school fees and sanitary products. HPI Global is committed to providing free product to those most vulnerable, and believe this is entirely possible. 

GPI Global is a unique, multifaceted approach to dignified menstrual health management. Not only is the product locally made, there is a strong community based organization around the endeavor which includes: education, outreach, and support. HPI has become an important voice in Uganda around the issues of women's health and equality. 

Tens of thousands of women and girls have been impacted by HPI in northern Uganda, including school girls, refugees, and vulnerable populations. HPI delivers products, education and information weekly and monthly, in 2017, we distributed over 1m sanitary pads across the the region and camps near S. Sudan.

HPI Global has the potential to reach millions in underserved communities, believing access to proper sanitary products and education is a human right. We believe that HPI Global has the capability and integrity to address issues around menstrual health, creating livelihoods while increasing health. 

Our aim is to address not only access, but increase awareness around menstrual health. Presenting relevant information and access to proper products is imperative to success of girls and women. Girls cannot be expected to attend school without proper  products and information. Period. Our hope is create a local and global conversation around menstrual health.

WGEF utilizes the amazing brain trust of Uganda. We employ and partner with young, energized, committed young professionals who have a fierce desire to work and support their local communities. 

Our objective is to provide jobs and opportunities to local and regional citizens, who have received an education in their country, understand the local populations, languages, and customs, and desire to work to improve the future of their countries and community. 

Our staff is the most brilliant and committed team of Ugandans, ready to recover and rebuild their communities. 

We are a non-profit seeking funds thru traditional fundraising, grant writing, outreach, online and social media, events, and corporate partnerships. 

WGEF believes in strong partnerships, and HPI Global is at the point of needing new and energetic partners. The technology piece of HPI Global will be integral to its success and Solve would provide a variety of support opportunities. 

Funding, expertise and partners, multi-year partnerships and outreach.