PERIOD POVERTY KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES

Despite the many accomplishments of the country, one issue still remains; period poverty still plagues the women and girls of lower income groups.

(Source: Anika Gordon/ Unsplash.com)

KELANTAN: Period poverty is a huge issue in the country, and denying its existence is ignorant and this privilege has restrained the issue from being properly addressed by the higher-ups.

According to the World Bank, an estimated 500 million women and girls do not have any basic resources for menstrual sanitation management which should be given attention to as women are having menstrual every month and pads are considered a necessity.

Period poverty does exist in Malaysia, but this issue is not openly discussed, resulting in many people not acknowledging those in need of hygiene kits during this hard time.

Recently, this issue has been hotly debated by citizens of Malaysia on social media when a head of Pejuang Young’s Women Wings, Nurul Ashikin Mabahwi made a statement acknowledging this issue.

According to Nurul Ashikin’s postings, women that came from a Bottom 40 income bracket (B40) family have the tendency to get pregnant as a way of saving money from spending money on sanitary pads where the money can be spent on food and other essential items.

In Malaysia, a pack consisting of 16 sanitary pads costs around RM15 and for a pack of 16 tampons costs around RM28. For some, this amount of money can be allotted for their cost of living.

This issue has been seriously argued by citizens as people started to question how period poverty can lead to unwanted pregnancy as raising children costs a lot more than buying a pack of sanitary pads.

Ari Arissa Zaidi, 26 years old were inspired by some of the movements from overseas that help women in need of hygiene kit and to form the same force but based in Kuala Lumpur.

“During the pandemic, I saw many women were crying for help as they don’t have money to buy sanitary pads, so I think why not I help those who are struggling”

It breaks her heart to see how many women were participating in her movements asking for help to get sanitary pads and other hygiene kit.

The kits that provided by Ari Arissa consist of pads, menstrual pills, hand sanitisers, disposable face masks, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and shavers.

This might sound illogical for some but not having enough money can lead people to take short term decisions to make the problem solved faster and deal with it later as their main goal is trying to survive for tomorrow rather than what they need to face in the future.

Umairah Rosrizal, 22 years old, felt so furious when people on social media are not acknowledging this matter. As someone who was affected during the lockdown, she felt grateful to the Non-Government Organization (NGO) that came up with the idea of giving away hygiene kits.

“Due to my father being stuck in Brunei during the MCO, I was struggling financially to survive. The money that I have only enough for food and other bills that I need to pay so the hygiene kit distribution really saves my life’

Luckily, the government has started to look into this matter and is finally being properly addressed by them and at the same it raises awareness towards the public that this issue is also happening in developed countries like Malaysia.

According to TheStar, Minister of Finance, YB Dato Sri Tengku Zafrul bin Tengku Abdul Aziz, has tabled a budget 2022, which includes giving 130,000 personal hygiene kits to B40 group which also includes other plans to help women empowerment.

Infographic budget 2022.

(Source: @Bernamadotcom)

Poverty stems from lack of money among other things and thus period poverty also poses a danger to their health. Other alternatives that can help women in Malaysia to combat this issue, is by removing sales taxes on pads and tampons so everyone can be affordable to all women. Instead of stigmatizing, we can start by acknowledging it and help those people in need.

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