HAVE you ever wondered how less fortunate and/or destitute women cope during their periods? Do they have access to sanitary products? Do they have to choose between wanting to use their money to purchase food or to buy sanitary products? If they have reusable products, are they safe to use? Is there an organisation in Guyana that provides free sanitary products for women in need? These are all questions I have been pondering lately as it relates to periods and the less fortunate. A few years back, I watched a video on YouTube called; “How do homeless women cope with their periods?” It was produced by a channel called, “Bustle.” Before that, the thought of women struggling to financially and physically cope because they simply cannot afford to never crossed my mind and ever since, it never left my thoughts.

This should be a national health priority! My average cost for a sanitary pad is GY$150. A typical period lasts around five days and the average woman would typically use about three pads per day; GY$2,250 per period; GY$27,000 per year. This is my rough estimation of the cost it takes for a woman to take care of herself during her period. Of course, that cost excludes medications, toilet paper and additional days or usage of sanitary products, etc. It is upsetting to think that such a natural phenomenon is still taboo and under-looked upon. This hefty cost is not the only problem. The lack of sanitary products and “period-friendly” environments, on the whole, is as well. I can remember clearly, there were many girls in my high school, who came from families that could not afford sanitary pads. Teachers gave them from their personal stash. Even when I had ‘accidents’ and forgot to take extra sanitary pads to school, either the school just did not have or I was forced to go around asking my friends or female students for one. I am sure many office spaces in Guyana also does not have these products to freely give female staff members in times of need. Why?

A quote made in that very video I previously mentioned gave me the chills. One of the women expressed that: “The hardest part of living on the streets is being a woman.” Homelessness or not, the hardest part is always being a woman in life. In Guyana, commendable efforts are being made by organisations such as Days for Girls Guyana, the Happy Flow Foundation and SRHR Adventures with Dr. Pat. During this epidemic, many other organisations have been donating hampers to families in need. I urge you all to add sanitary products for women in your essential hampers to families, a little can go a long way. Sexual reproductive health education is very important. These topics ought to be taught at every level in society. Women must be knowledgeable about how clean sanitary products can be used to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle.

Periods, a natural phenomenon that celebrates fertility, womanhood and the preparation of new life. Yet, it is always placed on a back burner? Why? We need to move from the stigmatisation of periods and sexual health to inclusivity and more awareness. All in all, sanitary napkins, pads, tampons, cups, tissues, etc., should be readily available to women. If we can’t entirely eradicate poverty and homelessness, then the least we can do is show some decadency and help women in need with period products. Ironically, condoms are readily available at almost every social service and/or public agency centres. Sanitary products are just as important but are highly capitalised upon and marketed AKA exploitation. Periods, the ‘Red Car’, Auntie Flo—whatever name we gloss it over as, is not a choice. It is naturally a part of the female experience and it’s about time we start treating it that way!