Women’s health at risk from lack of hygiene products in enclave

Women in Gaza are struggling to find sanitary products, and are resorting to unconventional alternatives that doctors say pose significant health risks.

Supermarkets and pharmacies in the enclave have run out of essential sanitary items after more than 10 weeks under siege.

Ola Sameh, 38, was forced to resort to other means. “I used the diapers of my baby,” she told The National.

She had stockpiled pads, but the war had lasted longer than she expected.

“At the beginning, the baby’s diapers were in trace amounts, but when aid entered Gaza during the truce, they brought diapers, but they didn’t bring pads.”

As Israel’s campaign in Gaza has gathered pace, the humanitarian situation in the enclave has worsened dramatically.

The UN and other world bodies have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine. According to the UN Population Fund, more than 690,000 women and girls in Gaza have limited access to menstrual hygiene products, as well as inadequate water, hygiene and privacy. This puts them at risk of reproductive ailments and urinary tract infections.

“We are aware of the scarcity and lack of sanitary napkins. We distribute napkins ourselves, but like everything else we distribute, it is a drop in the bucket,” said Tamara Alrifai, a spokeswoman for the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees.

Noor Al Najjar, an activist who provides Gazans with essential items such as food, medical kits and blankets, said she and her colleagues were preparing “emergency packages” for women, but had been unable to find pads.

“Most of the aid that entered Gaza didn’t include the pads, and if they succeeded in bringing some aid, it was in small amounts,” she added.

Several women are resorting to alternative methods, such as using small towels and washing them, in spite of the lack of clean water to do so.

Beside waterborne illness, these methods also carry risks of blood clots, bleeding, or an irregular menstrual cycle, Dr Islam Abu Samara, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis told The National.

“Women have come to ask for sanitary products because they can’t find them, and some of them use alternative methods, especially women who are in maternity and have given birth recently.

“But this could impact them negatively and result in infections,” Dr Abu Samara said.

“Difficulties in getting access to clean water could also increase infection and diseases.”