Journey of FemPure
The journey of FGEWS began with a simple but powerful realization: menstrual health in Pakistan was not only a health issue it was a matter of dignity, equality, education and environmental sustainability. The strength of FGEWS lies in the women, communities and changemakers who believe that dignity, health and knowledge should never be a privilege. In its early journey, FGEWS faced the complex challenge of addressing period poverty, menstrual stigma and lack of menstrual health education in Pakistan. Despite growing global awareness, millions of women and girls still lacked access to safe menstrual products, reliable information and stigma-free spaces to talk about their health.
Limited access, affordability barriers and deep-rooted cultural silence made the challenge even greater. But rather than seeing these barriers as limitations, FGEWS saw them as an opportunity to build a movement. FGEWS decided to establish a MHM ecosystem and launch its own MHM product line with the name Fempure. From the very beginning, Fempure was designed differently. While nearly 90% of menstrual products globally are designed by men, Fempure was created by women researchers based on the real needs and experiences of women and girls. The vision was clear: menstrual health solutions must go beyond products. They must address access, affordability, education, stigma, environmental sustainability and policy together.
Community health workers known as FemPure Sahelis bring menstrual health education directly to homes, helping families understand menstrual health with dignity and confidence. In classrooms, Red Talk sessions empower girls to learn about
their bodies through open conversations and interactive learning replacing silence with knowledge. Educators across the country are also trained through the FemPure MHM Catalyst Program which is Internationally accredited, enabling them to deliver age- appropriate menstrual health education to the next generation. Together, these initiatives are creating a growing network of women leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and communities working to break stigma, improve access, and create sustainable menstrual health solutions. What started as an idea is now evolving into a national movement driven by ordinary people creating extraordinary change. It is about communities, dignity and systems that work for every woman and girl.
FemPure developed a comprehensive menstrual health ecosystem. What began as an initiative driven by women researchers and public health professionals soon grew into a community-powered ecosystem designed to tackle menstrual health from multiple angles. To improve affordability and sustainability, FemPure also mobilizes local industry and engineers to design and develop low-carbon footprint sanitary pad manufacturing machinery, reducing environmental impact while strengthening local production capacity. Women entrepreneurs now operate Fempure Mini Marts, creating safe and stigma-free spaces where women can access affordable menstrual products and trusted information.
