Queenpads celebrates 5 years of providing menstrual health care in PNG

Queenpads PNG, a locally owned social enterprise focusing on providing menstrual health care, recently celebrated its’ 5th Year Anniversary with a Gala Dinner at the Hilton Port Moresby.

Speaking at the event last Saturday evening, Founder and Director of Queenpads PNG, Ms Anne-Shirely Korave said the 5 year journey was full of challenges but the team has made it through because of the support received from partners, sponsors, the community at large and of course, the dedicated staff of Queenpads PNG who have contributed time and effort over the past 5 years.

According to Ms Korave, the business was founded in Agust 2018 when she first started to look for alternatives to solve her daily challenges of affording menstrual health care products.

“When I left my full time job in 2017, I was faced with a lot of challenges as an unemployed young woman and one of my daily struggles during that time was finding money to help pay for menstrual health care products, especially sanitary pads,” said the owner of Queenpads PNG.

Faced with this challenge, Ms Korave decided to seek a cheaper yet effective solution and this is where she first came up with the idea of reusable sanitary pads, hence giving birth to the company Queenpads PNG.

The 5 year anniversary Gala Dinner was attended by key partners, clients, friends and family alike who have been a part of the Queenpads journey since its inception in 2018.

A few partners and long standing clients shared on the night about the impact that Queenpads PNG is making in rural communities across Papua New Guinea, not only through supplying its’ reusable sanitary products but also through carrying out menstrual health awareness sessions that are very vital especially for women who are in remote communities.

One such partner, a member from the UNFPA said, “Queenpads PNG is making a huge difference in the lives of women in rural communities, especially in certain places in the highlands where there are tribal fights occurring daily. These women are on the run every day and so having a product like Queenpads PNG alleviates much of the struggles they face.”

Another long standing client Sago Network, who have been ordering reusable sanitary pads from Queenpads PNG since it first kicked off operations said they were more than willing to stand beside and partner with a local company that has grown over the years.

“We were the first organization to place an order of the lovely Queenpads sanitary pads and although that first order did not go well, we are happy to still be on this journey with Queenpads PNG,” said Imelda.

Queenpads PNG has over the years, supplied more than 70, 000 reusable pads and has visited over a hundred communities and organizations alike to conduct awareness around menstrual health and at the same time issue the eco-friendly reusable pads.

Company owner and Director, Ms Anne-Shirely Korave when speaking at the Gala Dinner, said that Queenpads will soon be introducing the 7th version of its’ reusable sanitary pad and also announced new products that they will be introducing such as maternity pads and and menstrual underwear in addition to their existing line of products.