The New Zealand government has announced plans to tackle the issue of period poverty by offering free sanitary products in schools, CNN reported.
Following a $2.6 million ($1.6 million USD) investment, the Ministry of Education will begin providing the free products to 15 Waikato schools during term three before the program is expanded nationwide in 2021 to even more schools on an opt-in basis.
According to The Always Confidence and Puberty Wave VI Survey, nearly one in five American girls have left school early or skipped the day entirely because they were unable to afford pads or tampons during their period.
“We know that nearly 95,000 9-to-18 year olds may stay at home during their periods due to not being able to afford period products," NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement. "By making them freely available, we support these young people to continue learning at school."
In fact, period poverty has been proven to impact millions of people in the world's richest nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and indeed, New Zealand.
"Menstruation is a fact of life for half the population and access to these products is a necessity, not a luxury," said New Zealand's Minister for Women, Julie Anne Genter, said in the statement.
"Our plan to halve child poverty in 10 years is making a difference but there is more to do and with families hit hard by the COVID-19 global pandemic, it’s important to increase that support in the areas it can make an immediate difference," she said.
"This is another important initiative that sits alongside our work to reduce child poverty and hardship including the $5.5 billion Families Package, free lunches in schools, cheaper visits to the doctors, stopping schools asking for donations, and lifting benefits."
h/t: CNN, New Zealand Government
