06 Sep 2022

In an effort to bridge the level of inequality within communities, Bloom pads will restore hope, love and ascertain affordability among residents of Maokane.

In an interview at the just-ended consumer fair, project coordinator for Mabutsane Sub-district Council, Ms Makgoa Mosime, said the market-ready reusable sanitary pads project brought together some women.

 “These reusable pads are new to the market and we are striving to make them known within communities with emphasis on having people appreciate their functionality,” she said.

Ms Mosime said the new product might have challenges in penetrating the market, citing customer sceptics during the early stages of the product.

However, she assured that the Bloom reusable pads were certified by the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS).

She said beneficiaries project went through rigorous training on how to carefully assemble the layers involved in making the sanitary pads.

Ms Mosime said their target market included both women and teenagers that could not afford the usual sanitary pads from supermarket shelves, giving assurance that Bloom Pads were by far the cheapest across the country.

She said normal prices for disposable sanitary pads ranged from P20  to P30, but the Bloom pad remained at P10 each.  

Ms Mosime said their pads lasted for 18 months, provided one purchased a pack of four to six to allow for substitutable.

“Our product is made up of a combination of cotton, fleece, and flannel which are harmless, absorbent and comfortable.  The flannel is not destroyed when washing, ensuring high durability at all times,” she said.

She said their production rate stood at approximately 50 reusable sanitary pads each day, citing that with industrial machines the production would certainly scale up giving the business a greater platform to meet large orders.

Ms Mosime said Bloom pads were environmentally friendly given their biodegradable features, which allowed them to be disposed of through pit latrines or with any waste garbage.  

She stated that the pads were washed by soaking them three times and squashed to remove access dirt.Meanwhile, Ms Mosime stated that Bloom pads were a success story emanating from a donation of P200 000, courtesy of the Majwe AM 570 cycling challenge.

Ms Mosime encouraged donor companies and philanthropists to familiarise themselves with the product saying that it could be purchased in bulk for charitable occasions especially, where support for marginalised groups and disadvantaged groups was needed. ENDS