THE Butterfly Cup Company is set to launch the Menstrual Health Specialist Trust (MHS) which will serve as a platform for sourcing donor and partner funding for menstrual health products and services in Zimbabwe.
By Michael Gwarisa
The organisation’s Managing Director, Sarah Fox said the official launch of the trust has been scheduled for May 14, 2019.
“On 14 May we are officially launching The Menstrual Health Specialists Trust in Zimbabwe. The Trust is being set up to attract donors and partners who may be interested in supporting our girls with menstrual health products but do not have a vehicle through which to do this.
“The MHS Trust will work with the Butterfly Cup Co and Viva Lily to procure menstrual cups and period underwear. We believe these two products are the future of menstrual care. Both products are environmentally friendly and reusable,” said Fox.
Access to menstrual health products and services amongst girls from vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe has largely been hampered by the exorbitant prices which are way above the reach of many rural girls.
However The Butterfly Cup has come up with innovative means of managing girls and women’s menstrual health using menstrual cups made grade A silicon. The Butterfly Cup is a bell shaped reusable, menstrual cup that is worn internally to collect the menstrual flow.It is made from medical grade silicon, which is a safe and healthy option for menstrual care. It sits low in the vagina, leaving a gap between the cup and the cervix. The cup can be worn for up to 10 hours before needing to be emptied.
“We have tried and tested both the cup and the underwear and know that they provide ultimate comfort and protection for girls in schools and women in work.
“We will also be extending our education programs and working towards a holistic approach on menstrual health which acknowledges the need to include boys and men in our work. To achieve equality and have dignity in school and in life, girls and women need sanitary products. That’s the bottom line.”
