The Official Opposition Status of Women Critic is calling on the Sask. Party to address the issue. (Submitted Photo/ Good Neighbour Food Centre)

By Rachel May

The reality of 'Period Poverty'

A look at how ‘Period Poverty’ affects Saskatchewan

Aug 28, 2023 | 12:09 PM

With inflation skyrocketing across the country, the use of facilities to help those in need is reaching an all-time high.

With increasing pressure on household budgets, personal hygiene products are often pushed into the background.

The term ‘Period Poverty’ is a way to describe people who demonstrate having limited or no access to sanitary products and menstrual hygiene.

The Opposition Critic for Status of Women Jennifer Bowes told northeastNOW that this is a barrier to the health and wellness of women across Saskatchewan.

“A year’s worth of menstrual products can cost an arm and a leg. More and more families are really strapped for cash because the Sask. Party’s increased power bills three times in eight months and is collecting taxes on basic groceries, all while sitting on massive resource revenues.”

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Bowes explained that this leaves Saskatchewan residents having to choose between heating their homes or feeding their families.

“The Moe government should have already delivered meaningful cost-of-living relief, and we’ll continue to call on Moe and his Finance Minister to finally step up and do the right thing.”

The Good Neighbours Food Centre in Rosthern is seeing the effects of this firsthand with those who come into the facility.

Executive Director Betty Rudachyk said that having access to products and knowledge is vital to women’s health.

“It’s drawn attention because it’s a real thing when people do not have access to sanitary products, feminine hygiene and education in some cases. It really has a sort of a domino effect in terms of risk factors around health and wellness.”

Accompanied by stress and shame, there is often a stigma associated with reaching out for help or addressing the issue at all.

A large risk that women face when there is a lack of feminine hygiene products is attempting to extend the life of already soiled items.

Rudachyk explained that urinary tract infections and toxic shock syndrome are health impacts that women may face but there are also social, educational and work complications.

“You stay at home, you don’t go to school or women can’t go to work during that period of time because they’re using rags.”

Chanda Viczko Operations Manager at Good Neighbours Food Centre and Rudachyk emphasized that this type of awareness is often an example of women helping women and they encourage everyone to donate if they can.

Recently a tour group came through the facility and donated $100 specifically to purchase hygiene products which is a rarity for all organizations helping others.

“Typically, I cannot in all good conscience put that money to feminine hygiene products because our focus is on food security and food aid but when a group of women like the ones that came through, open their wallets and say we want this to be we want this to go to purchasing these items, we are so grateful.”

The $100 donation went to purchase nine packages of 24 pads and five boxes of 40 tampons. Although this is a significant donation, it will only help 15 women in the community for one to two months.

Rudachyk said she and Viczko are passionate about spreading awareness of the issue and encouraging others to do the same.

“Spread the word and be part of the voice that says, Hey, let’s all band together and let’s respond to this.”

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM