It is said that a crisis often reveals a person’s true character. And it is during this global pandemic, that we must reveal ours. The taboos around menstruation existed far before the coronavirus, but it is now more than ever that we need to break them. We at Stay Sure take a look at how this virus affects those who menstruate.
Period Poverty
This is a term that refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand washing facilities, andwaste management. While many suffer period poverty even through regular times, the Covid 19 crisis has made it even more difficult for people to manage their periods with dignity.
The Rush for Essentials
As lockdowns were announced across the world, households rushed to stock up on groceries and essentials. Most households usually have a stock of a months’ worth of hygiene products. Butduring this crisis it is recommended you stock up on around two months’ worth of products. More than this would amount to hoarding, and that leaves many people short on supply.
Migration
As fear overcame the country with the announcement of the lockdown, lakhs of people migrated back to their home towns. In such a situation, personal hygiene was low on priority. This led to many people resorting to unhygienic methods of sanitation.
Financial Implications
It is not just the lack of availability of these products that is cause for concern. It is also the fact that many people are out of work and their financial capabilities have reduced drastically, making it even tougher to access personal hygiene products.
No Time for Taboos
Now more than ever, we need to stand together, against taboos. There is no time for opinions on menstruation. It is now time to act. We are in the middle of a global pandemic and as we all know, periods don’t stop for pandemics.
Given that menstrual hygiene is not usually discussed openly, it is difficult for people to even ask for hygiene products. Now with the additional restrictions of lockdown such as only one member from the household stepping out to buy supplies, this becomes even tougher.
If you are the person going out, make it easier for the rest of the family to ask for the hygiene products they require. If you can, ask them exactly what they need, openly. Else you could also ask them to write down a list or occasionally send them to buy supplies instead. It is important for everyone to be aware and alert about this.
The Impact on Health Workers
The lack of awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene products has affected people across board. Even health workers on the frontlines were not spared. Some reports stated that in China, nurses, doctors&community health workers had no choice but to take contraceptive pills in order to supress their menstrual cycles. Others just had to bleed into their protective suits.
Why Personal Hygiene Matters?Â
During a crisis like this, most people may feel that there is no need for people to panic about personal hygiene. After all, right now we all need to focus on keeping ourselves safe from Covid 19. And yes, that is extremely important, but at the same time we mustn’t forget what could happen with poor sanitation methods.
Lack of personal hygiene products makes those menstruating more susceptible to diseases such as Urinary Tract Infection, Hepatitis B, Yeast Infections and even Cervical Cancer. Coupled with the fact that there is limited mobility and at this point it is advisable to stay away from hospitals, these can become extremely serious conditions if left unattended.
In times like this, it is extremely important that we are sensitive to the personal hygiene needs of people around us. We at Stay Sure urge every individual to become aware of the negative health impact they could cause their loved ones just by a lack of awareness & traditional belief systems. Stay home. Stay safe but most importantly stay aware!