A sanitary napkin production unit ‘MAHIMA’, established at Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) Ranchi, was inaugurated today jointly by Dr Kaninika Mitra, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Jharkhand & Dr Basudev Das, Director, CIP, Ranchi.

The Sanitary Napkin Unit established at CIP is a collaborative initiative of UNICEF Jharkhand & CIP to ensure and fulfil pressing demands of providing accessible and affordable sanitary napkins to the women and girl patients there. On this occasion, Ms Astha Alang, Communication, Advocacy & Partnership specialist, UNICEF; Mr Kumar Premchand, WASH Specialist, UNICEF; Dr Laxmi Saxena, WASHOfficer, UNICEF; Dr Avinash Sharma, Administrative Officer, CIP and other officials & doctors were also present. 

Speaking on this occasion, Dr Kaninika Mitra, Chief, UNICEF Jharkhand said, “I am so happy to see this sustainable and joint effort of UNICEF and CIP come to life. Because stigma, poverty, and lack of access to basic services like affordable sanitary napkins are causing menstrual health and hygiene needs to go unmet and increasing women and girls’ risk of infections.” 

She further added, “Menstrual health and hygiene management, when available to all, can help break barriers and support adolescent girls to grow into healthy and empowered women,”

“Keeping this in mind, UNICEF and CIP have come forward to set up a sanitary napkin production unit, so that the women and girl patients here can access sanitary pads and managetheir menstruation in a better, hygienic and healthy manner as well as equip them with skills of pad making and packaging.This is very special because it will help the patients admitted in CIP who have mental health problems, in maintaining their dignity, hygiene and they will also participate in packaging the sanitary napkins, which will boost their confidence and engage them in productive activities. The purpose is to engage stable female patients in MHM awareness generation among other patients, and engage them in packaging/operationalization of the SNPU.”

Dr Basudev Das, Director, CIP said, “I am very grateful to UNICEF for this innovative partnership. The Sanitary Napkin Production Unit, which has been inaugurated today, is a collaborative initiative of UNICEF and CIP and it has been set up with the aim to address the pressing needs of accessible and affordable sanitary napkins for girls and women in the community. This initiative will be very helpful for the women and girl residents and patients here. Through UNICEF’s valuable support and partnerships, we been able to realise this vision to create a sustainable solution to empower women and enhance their health and wellbeing.”

He further said, “As per plan, everyday around 15,000 sanitary pads will be produced here, which will be used by women and girl patients. It has been also decided to provide sanitary napkins to the students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) of nearby areas at a very nominal cost. ”

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by warden andstudents of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), Kanke and the representative of World Vision India.