MERIPAD PROJECT

Discover the MeriPad Project by Heaps PNG, providing sustainable and reusable menstrual pads to women and girls in Papua New Guinea. Learn how this initiative empowers communities, supports health, and promotes eco-friendly menstrual solutions.

Currently 26 people, including 16 women and children, were recently killed in East Sepik Province and the killers are still hiding in the bushes. Tambati village victims have lost their homes, many women and children are refugees who have fled to Angoram township. There is safe place provided by the District LLG, UNCEF has set up tents for medical treatment, HEAPS is assisting through providing MeriPads and sanitation items and delivering health and hygiene classes.

Women and girls hold a good percentage of the Papua New Guinea nation’s population and contribute extensively to the development of the country, yet they are not recognised as equal partners in development, as Women’s status continues to remain poor.

On average a remote village girl menstruates 3,000 times in her life. Poverty, cultural taboos, shame and pad availability are said to be the main barriers which prevent hygienic and safe management of periods.

Several years back the Samban, Paniten and Wom village women and girls trialed and designed their own MeriPad Kit to complement their ways of living and to be environmentally friendly for their river.  4,500 pads were manufactured, made with certified organic cotton and bamboo cloth suitable for tropical wearing.

The locally affordable pads are re-washable and come in 3 different sizes.  Our social enterprise/business has introduced a women vendors market supply which includes natural bristle wooden scrubbing brushes, sturdy wooden pegs, antiseptic soap, quality cotton towels and underwear.
The reusable pad provides quality protection for school girls, birthing mothers, incontinent elderly and women with a vaginal fistula to enable a dignified livelihood.

GBA (Gender-based Analysis) was used as an analytical tool to support the development of the MeriPad program.

The information was used to understand who is impacted by the project and to identify how the project could be tailored to meet different people’s needs, anticipating and mitigating any barriers to accessing or receiving benefits from the project.

We produced a health education theatre play which performed in the 11 villages of Gavien and Angoram communities.

The script covered, puberty, periods, pads and local women in business. A total of 7,160 people of all ages from the elderly to children attended.

The lesson was delivered to 350 youths and adults.

There are an estimated 1.2 billion women globally who lack access to menstrual hygiene products to adequately manage their menstrual cycle.