CPL Group through City Pharmacy and the CPL Foundation commemorated World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th 2023 in a big way for young girls in Papua New Guinea.
Menstruation is everyone’s business. However, menstrual taboo still exists in most communities, combined with stigma and shame limiting access and support to Menstrual needs such as Menstrual Health information, women’s health services, products and facilities. Around 2 out of 3 girls in PNG miss classes a few days each month due to the lack of access and availability of sanitary products, including pads.
Through a partnership with Queenpads PNG, CPL is pleased to launch the first annual donation campaign to keep our young girls in school. Each of our City Pharmacy shops around the country now have set-up donation boxes at their respective stores to facilitate.
We encourage our customers to purchase any hygiene products, and donate in-store. At the end of each yearly quarter, a donation will be made to selected schools around each of our over 35 pharmacies nationwide.
Launching the initiative was CPL Group Chief Executive Officer, Navin Raju, Head of Pharmacy, Pradeep Panda, and Queenpads Founder, Anne-Shirley Korave.
“CPL Group is pleased to take the lead in this initiative”, said Navin Raju. “Investments in menstrual health and hygiene will result in the improvement of the overall health and well-being of women and girls, better educational outcomes, and greater economic empowerment”.
Anne-Shirley further added, “Queenpads is very happy to partner with City Pharmacy to support our campaign for school girls, especially those in the rural areas. The idea is to engage with customers and the general public to ensure that we provide access and information to them in managing their special days”.
Menstrual Equity can be achieved when menstrual conversations are normalized, understood and its needs recognized and supported.
The donations will help schoolgirls in semi-rural and rural areas manage their special days while keeping them in school.
