Comments on: School Girls in Africa: Part 2 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/ Periods, Politics & Personalities Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:21:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Deanna Duke http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-330 Deanna Duke Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:52:45 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-330 Hello all, I just wanted to clarify that the pads being distributed are not going to girls with HIV or AIDS. I have been asked specifically by aid workers regarding providing the pads to women living with HIV/AIDS as they feel it is very important for them to have adequate supplies to control their own menstrual blood. In other words, it is less of a health risk to have something like Lunapads because they can contain their menstrual flow better than with using inadequate materials. This issue warrants further discovery and I have asked one of my contacts to discuss the issue with the healthcare workers in Uganda for more information. Deanna Duke Director, Goods 4 Girls Hello all,

I just wanted to clarify that the pads being distributed are not going to girls with HIV or AIDS. I have been asked specifically by aid workers regarding providing the pads to women living with HIV/AIDS as they feel it is very important for them to have adequate supplies to control their own menstrual blood. In other words, it is less of a health risk to have something like Lunapads because they can contain their menstrual flow better than with using inadequate materials.

This issue warrants further discovery and I have asked one of my contacts to discuss the issue with the healthcare workers in Uganda for more information.

Deanna Duke
Director, Goods 4 Girls

]]> By: Eileen http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-324 Eileen Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:47:02 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-324 I see where you are coming from Caro. But I do think that HIV blood soaked disposable pads would cause just as much of an issue, if not more of one! I see where you are coming from Caro. But I do think that HIV blood soaked disposable pads would cause just as much of an issue, if not more of one!

]]> By: sandra http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-323 sandra Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:51:53 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-323 To Caro: you've made some very good points. I'm sure this has been an issue for some time now, it's that the world is just now waking up to what is happening on that continent. But in regards to your issues, Deanna has answered them in the FAQ on her site: <a href="http://www.goods4girls.org/2008/02/faq.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.goods4girls.org/2008/02/faq.html</a> and the groups Goods 4 Girls are working with seem very committed to ensuring this is done right. Lunapads has donated pads previously through other organizations, so we've heard first-hand from people working in Africa that since supplies can be so scarce in some areas girls would take pieces of whatever they could find - sometimes foam from their beds or bits of cloth, often previously used...and when that ran out they'd just stay home. To Caro: you’ve made some very good points. I’m sure this has been an issue for some time now, it’s that the world is just now waking up to what is happening on that continent. But in regards to your issues, Deanna has answered them in the FAQ on her site: http://www.goods4girls.org/2008/02/faq.html and the groups Goods 4 Girls are working with seem very committed to ensuring this is done right.
Lunapads has donated pads previously through other organizations, so we’ve heard first-hand from people working in Africa that since supplies can be so scarce in some areas girls would take pieces of whatever they could find - sometimes foam from their beds or bits of cloth, often previously used…and when that ran out they’d just stay home.

]]> By: Caro http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-322 Caro Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:06:04 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-322 I don't understand why this is suddenly an issue. What did women & girls in these parts of Africa traditionally use for menstrual protection? Is it a legacy of colonization that has left them unable to effectively deal with their periods? Also, even though I've been using The Keeper and reusable pads for over 15 years (and have sold both), I wonder about the sanitary implications of promoting reusable menstrual products in a part of the world with high HIV/AIDS prevalence. Will the safe handling of bloodied cloth be taught along with the donated Lunapads? Will women be instructed not to share their pads with family members? Will women even have ready access to washing pads? These are my initial questions with respect to promoting reusable cotton pads in Africa. I'm torn about the issue. I think it could be a great idea, but I think it needs to be approached responsibly. I don’t understand why this is suddenly an issue. What did women & girls in these parts of Africa traditionally use for menstrual protection? Is it a legacy of colonization that has left them unable to effectively deal with their periods?

Also, even though I’ve been using The Keeper and reusable pads for over 15 years (and have sold both), I wonder about the sanitary implications of promoting reusable menstrual products in a part of the world with high HIV/AIDS prevalence. Will the safe handling of bloodied cloth be taught along with the donated Lunapads? Will women be instructed not to share their pads with family members? Will women even have ready access to washing pads? These are my initial questions with respect to promoting reusable cotton pads in Africa. I’m torn about the issue. I think it could be a great idea, but I think it needs to be approached responsibly.

]]> By: amber http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-321 amber Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:24:03 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/03/school-girls-in-africa-part-2/#comment-321 Really great kits! Thanks for making this option available. Really great kits! Thanks for making this option available.

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