Sanitary products too costly - period

"Female sanitary products aren't a luxury but, for young Kiwi women on tight budgets, they're an expense that's hard to afford." MP Louisa Wall

Some young Kiwi women are skipping classes when they have their period because they can’t afford to buy sanitary products, a Labour MP says.

Louisa Wall has helped launch a programme, supported by Countdown and the Salvation Army, to help supply women with the products they need.

‘‘Female sanitary products aren’t a luxury but, for young Kiwi women on tight budgets, they’re an expense that’s hard to afford,’’ the Manurewa MP said.

Ms Wall added that some women stay home from university or school because they can’t afford to buy tampons or pads, which can cost between $5 to $15 a month.

‘‘Others resort to makeshift or unhygienic measures such as recycling used pads or improvising pads from old clothes, rags newspaper and other materials – putting them at risk of infection and illness.’’

The ‘‘Women’s Hygiene Bundle’’ is part of the Salvation Army’s Foodbank project, and a donation – encouraged monthly – of $15 can give women the products they need. Countdown supplier Kimberley Clark kickstarted the campaign with $2,500 worth of sanitary products as a donation.

Major Pam Waugh, head of Salvation Army Community Ministries, said it was particularly concerning that women might be missing out on their education because they had their period.

’’We know that poverty can follow people throughout their lifetime, so it’s essential students who are making every effort to improve their future prospects are not held back because it’s ‘that time of the month’.’’

Salvation Army territorial public relations director Shane Chisholm said the charity got good support from the community with donations of food but not many people thought about the health of their clients and the need for sanitary products.

‘‘It’s not just a women’s issue, it’s a community issue.’’

And it’s not just a community issue in New Zealand.

New York state was last week forced to repeal a tax on tampons and pads after a backlash that the tax was sexist.

Female legislators had complained other personal products, including condoms and bandages, were tax-free.