Help Girls Finish School
Nominate girls for UHC Pad to help them finish school.
If you are a corporation/organisation, promote ‘Help Girls Finish School’ campaign without spending.
We are committed to adolescent girls in need of hygienic protection – According to UN’s Education Agency, one in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their menstruation. Some girls reportedly lose 20 percent of their education, for this reason, making them more likely to drop out of school altogether.
We work with the adolescent girls on Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) and on Menstrual Health Management (MHM) i.e. we partner with them in:
- Using Safepad™ to absorb and collect blood;
- Changing Safepad™ in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of the period;
- Using soap, water and or SuperTowel™ to clean their bodies and water to wash Safepad™ as required;
- Discussing Safepad™ in the presence of adolescent boys – the discussion will emphasise the idea that Safepad™ is a means of managing toilets (not a pad for the underprivileged);
- Registering those of them that agree to get fresh set of Safepad™ after every 4 years in school; and,
- Publicizing activities in items 1-5 above on- and offline in order to break taboo around menstruation and to continue getting nominations
Safepad™ is a luxurious, fast drying, soft and stretchy reusable and recyclable sanitary pad designed to provide a safe and infection free experience.
75% of all women experience vaginal yeast or bacterial infections during their lifetime. These infections cause health issues and in worst cases will impact fertility.
Therefore, Safepad™ hygienic sanitary pads are designed with a permanently bonded antimicrobial technology that helps reducing vaginal infections caused by Candida albicans along with infections from other pathogens.
The antimicrobial technology is based on a treatment that leaves a positively charged layer on the fabric. This layer will attract and kill the negatively charged microbes, like bacteria and fungi. The treatment does not contain any harmful chemicals.
The permanently bonded antimicrobial fabric along with a highly absorbent material provides a comfortable and hygienic experience for the women.
Antimicrobial Efficiency as tested under experimental conditions JIS L 1902:2008
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa | 99,99% reduction |
Escherichia Coli | 99,99% reduction |
Staphylococcus Aureus | 99,99% reduction |
Candida Albicans | 99,99% reduction |
Aspergillus Niger | 99,99% reduction |
Safepad™ is Comfortable
Safepad™ is made of a soft, durable and breathable fabric, that offers reusability, protection and comfort.
The fabric is 100% polyester based.
The top fabric is a soft velvet.
The core absorbent material is made of special treated fibrillated high absorbent fibers
The bottom fabric is a mesh jacquard with a PU lamination
Safepad™ is Environmentally friendly
Safepad™ is re-usable and can be re-cycled.
Safepad™ is Easy to Use:
Safepad™ has high and quick absorbency technology and will not leach during use.
Safepad™ fabric technology ensures high and immediate absorbency, non-leakage and quick drying after wash.
Questions & Answers
What is the average number of days per month a user has her menstruation?
The average menstruation period lasts from 4 to 6 days. Most women experience that during the first 2 – 3 days the flow is heavier.
How many units of SafePad™ do you give?
There are 4 pieces of Safepad™ per package – 3 x Super Daypads & 1 x Long Nightpad
Provided that care instructions (30 min soaking, rinsing, squeezing and drying) are followed, a piece of Safepad™ will withstand at least 100 washes.
Assuming that the piece is washed twice in a period, 100 washes translates into 4 years of use. The antimicrobial efficacy will not deplete over time as the treatment is permanently bonded to the fabric.
Flow varies from woman to woman as well as within the period for the same woman.
Within the normal range, an average usage per person per 24-hour period is 2 – 4 pcs. In the beginning of the period when the flow is heavy average usage is 3pcs during day and 1pc during night. Towards end of the period 1 to 2 pcs during day and 1 during night.
Therefore, we give 2 pack a girl for every 4 years in school – this takes care of washing and drying
Any relevant reviews on SafePad™?
Yes, there is.
It was on a Friday, when we visited a primary school in Nairobi, to plan with the teachers our MHM session in the school. Three teachers in the school requested that we carry extra packs for them. We chose to instantly give them a pack each and we requested them for their review in return.
A day after our visit was a 3rd day of period for one of them. 3rd days are usually her heaviest flow days and she couldn’t think of a better day to try Safepad™. As expected, she played it safe and stayed at home most of the day but she realised that playing safe was not necessary.
She usually uses 6 or 7 pads on 3rd days – that is a fair amount of blood. She expected to wear all the 4 pieces for the heavy day, but she didn’t come close to needing to change the first pad by her time to sleep but she changed in order to try the Long Nightpad.
She had washed the one she tried first – she soaked in water (without soap) for 30 minutes, rinsed and hunged it with her bathing towel. In the morning, the Safepad™ was dry, she wore it again for the following day. She didn’t need to worry about carrying the extra 2 Super Daypads for the 2nd trial day! She had developed enough confidence in Safepad™.
‘I feel that Safepad™ are quick at absorbing blood, I did not experience awkward wet feeling and even when I clotted, it was not uncomfortable for too long, it absorbed quickly. I totally recommend Safepad™ as the best alternative to standard menstural products!”, she concluded.
What chemicals are used?
The antimicrobial treatment of Safepad™ is formed by Silica, Nitrogen and carbon. It does not contain any harmful or dangerous chemicals nor does it contain antibiotics. The non-harmful chemicals used to make Safepad™ antimicrobial will not leak out of the fabric during use or washing as the treatment is permanently bonded to the fabric.
Absorption:
1 Super Daypad can absorb approximately 10 ml without leaking.
1 Long Nightpad can absorb approximately 15 ml without leaking.