The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) and Kotex have announced their partnership on the Kit Seri programme as a proactive measure in dealing with period poverty in Malaysia.
The partnership will encompass two core components namely; menstrual hygiene education amongst teenage girls and supply of sanitary pads to 130,000 girls from the B40 community that has been identified for the programme.
The Social Empowerment of Reproductive Health Initiatives (Seri) kit was announced in the national Budget 2022 as a proactive measure to address period poverty in Malaysia.
Period poverty refers to the inadequate access to feminine hygiene products as well as a lack of education on period management and menstrual waste management.
“Period poverty is often simply referred to as the lack of access to feminine hygiene products when the reality and implications are far greater. Period poverty can inadvertently result in girls missing school, compromised mental health caused by unwanted stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation and more.
“Therefore, the allocation of RM10 million in Budget 2022 by the Malaysian Government to provide free monthly supply of pads to 130,000 girls from B40 households must run in parallel with increased education and awareness on menstrual hygiene and management especially amongst teen girls,” said LPPKN director general Abdul Shukur Abdullah.
As part of the partnership, Kotex and LPPKN will be working with teachers from 1,124 schools nationwide to deliver talks on period management, menstrual hygiene as well as reproductive health. More than 500 teachers have participated in the training session to-date.
Abdul Shukur added, “With the right understanding of puberty, usage and disposal of period management products, we can normalize period for Malaysian girls so they can pursue a lifestyle where they are confident and do not feel small just because they are menstruating. Besides, a strong support system consisting of teachers, friends and family will also help reduce the risk of mental stress amongst teenage girls due to period.”
Kimberly-Clark Malaysia managing director Rahul Asthana said Malaysia’s policy makers are making structural changes in a bid to eradicate period poverty in the country.
“Kotex has always championed women’s progress across the globe to fight against period stigmas and barriers. Over the past 20 years in Malaysia, Kotex has successfully empowered some one million girls and women through our menstrual education and product donation programmes which we run in partnership with schools, universities and NGOs.
“Hence, this journey that we are now embarking on with LPPKN and the teachers is even more meaningful as this will enable us to impact even more girls in Malaysia and set them up for even greater progress,” he said.
To overcome the challenges posed by Covid-19 and appeal to a digital-first generation, the feminine hygiene brand had launched the Kotex #SheCan Project in 2021 to allow teenage girls to learn about menstrual hygiene, mental health and body positivity in a fun, interactive and gamified format online. The modules are approved by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and is free for all.
Additionally, over the past six months, Kotex has donated more than 100,000 packs of sanitary products to help women and girls in need across the country.
Kotex also assisted Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kendiri Wanita dan Gadis (WOMEN:girls), Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), World Vision and others with the flood relief efforts last December.
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