P&P contributes to First Lady’s Menstrual Hygiene Initiative

As First Lady Arya Ali continues her Menstrual Hygiene Initiative, P&P Insurance Brokers last week made a donation towards the venture.
Through this initiative, sanitary napkins would be made accessible to women and girls free of cost.
During a simple ceremony, Jaya Panday and Ahilia Panday handed over 50 boxes of sanitary pads to the Office of the First Lady.

“Many young women all across Guyana are challenged by an inability to acquire sanitary pads and Her Excellency the First Lady must be commended for starting the initiative and for the good work she has been doing in this regard,” Jaya Panday said.
Panday also said that P&P was very happy to be given the opportunity to make a contribution and they see it as part of their corporate social responsibility to look out for and help fill the needs of the less fortunate.
The distribution of sanitary pads through the First Lady’s initiative has begun in several regions across Guyana and will see more than 30,000 girls benefiting.
The Regional Education Department in Regions One (Barima-Waini); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice -Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were recently provided with one year’s supply of sanitary pads for each secondary school-aged girl.
Over the next few months, the remaining regions, Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will receive their allocation, and begin providing the pads to the schools for distribution.
During a recent fundraising event, the First Lady had explained that when her office launched this project last year, it was with faith, hope, optimism, and zero dollars.
“I made the announcement about the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative and we waited patiently and hoped for support from our partners,” she said, adding that the support so far has been overwhelming.
“I am most pleased, and proud, that we are able to provide one year’s supply of sanitary pads to every secondary school-aged girl in this country at no cost to them. Of course, this will continue every year after this one,” she noted.
Having achieved this, Ali posited that her attention would now shift to providing coverage for women. With limited funding, she underscored the need for donations and fundraisers which allow her office to expand coverage for women.
Just recently, the Office of the First Lady, in partnership with Dilmah Tea, hosted one such fundraiser – Chari-Tea – a tea party and fashion show, at State House.
“Fundraisers like these are, therefore, very important to this aspect of the project, because the funding received from the Government only provides partial coverage for our girls. Therefore, we rely heavily on these fundraising events and donations to compensate for that shortfall,” she shared.
The Government of Guyana has provided $50 million in its 2022 budget towards this programme.