Calling innovators to revolutionize menstrual hygiene for women with severe disabilities for a chance to render sustainable impact.
Learn moreB-SCAN, a women-led organisation of Persons with Disabilities, proudly launched an innovation competition to revolutionise menstrual hygiene for women with severe disabilities.
This competition was conducted in collaboration with WaterAid Bangladesh, a leading international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in developing countries with the assistance of Kimberly Clark.
The aim was to engage young innovators in addressing the challenges that women and girls with disabilities face in managing their menstruation with dignity and comfort. Over the course of two months, teams from across the country submitted their ideas. From an initial pool of 31outstanding applications, 15 teams were shortlisted. After a mentoring and idea development phase, 8 teams were selected to pitch their concepts before a jury panel comprising experts in disability rights, health, innovation, and development. Finally, the top 5 teams were chosen for their practical, inclusive, and user-friendly innovations.
Team InnovAid, comprised of four outstanding school-going students, emerged as the winning team with their unique idea specifically designed to support girls with disabilities in managing their menstruation more independently. Their pad is made from colour fibre, natural cotton, and cloth-based disposable bags, and comes with handles and a user-friendly design to support visually impaired and physically challenged users. The first runners up, The SheMove and second runners-up, Team Pari also proposed adaptive designs and thoughtful solutions catering to marginalised communities.
The winners were selected by a distinguished jury panel comprising experts from government, development, health, and private sectors. From the competition's inception to the final round, the panel played an instrumental role in ensuring a transparent and inclusive evaluation process. Jury members included Dr Zeenat Sultana (DGFP), Ms Sharmin Akbari (BRAC), Ms Samiha Nishat Chowdhury (SMC Enterprise), Mr Sanjoy Majumder (BNPS), Ms Trisha Nashtaran (Meyeti Network), Ms Nurunnahar and Ms Tunazzina Haque (WaterAid Bangladesh), and Ms Salma Mahbub (B-SCAN).
