By The editorial staff of Allodocteurs.fr, with AFP

Written on
02/18/2021, Updated

02/19/2021 at 3:28 PM

Avoid dropping out of school and menstrual insecurity by distributing free periodic protection: this is what New Zealand has just decided. According to Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister, a study showed that around 1 in 12 teenage girls did not go to school during their period due to lack of access to sanitary protection.

“Young people should not miss their education because of something normal for half of the population,” said the Prime Minister.

“Providing free protections at school is a way for the government to directly tackle poverty, help increase school attendance rates and have a beneficial effect on the well-being of children.”

Read also: Menstrual precariousness: a senator asks for free hygienic protection

The continuation of a pilot project

The program will start in June and cost NZ $ 25 million (€ 15 million) over three years. A pilot project, tested last year, had shown that thanks to this program, students were more involved and that their academic results were better.

“Menstrual insecurity” affects women who cannot afford to buy sanitary napkins and tampons. Associations such as Restos Du Coeur appeal to the generosity of the French during collections. They also sensitize them to “menstrual precariousness”.

During the national collections of Resto du Cœur, think about hygiene products, and in particular feminine hygiene products which are largely forgotten during collections. A few packages of protection can make a big difference to those who need it. ♥ ️ pic.twitter.com/u0qFqLAJOM

– Ana ???????????????? (@AnaVDLB) March 6, 2020

Last year Scotland became the first nation in the world to provide privacy in all public buildings.