Hygiene kits and ‘dignity’ kits: What’s the difference?

Orange buckets with the UNFPA logo are a common sight where there are reproductive health outreach missions for survivors of typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley. They are hygiene kits and “dignity” kits that are commonly given out to women and girls.

Hygiene kits contain basic necessities given to women and girls of reproductive age for keeping clean. They contain such items as soap, shampoo, laundry bar, sanitary napkins, nail clipper, toilet paper,  toothpaste and brush.

“Dignity” kits, on the other hand, are given to pregnant and breastfeeding women. They contain essentially the same items in the hygiene kit, but with additional items such as bath towel, malong, panties, alcohol, slippers and potty, which allow pregnant and breastfeeding mothers maintain some dignity and a higher level of protection against diseases and infection due to their and their babies’ delicate condition.

These kits, aside from medicines, medical supplies and services, are part of UNFPA’s humanitarian response support to communities in an emergency situation. The response is specifically targetted to address the reproductive health needs of the affected population, especially pregnant and lactating women, to prevent maternal and infant deaths, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies, and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, with the expected disruption of normal health services.