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One-third of Kiwi women forced to miss school, work because of period poverty

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 1 Nov 2018, 7:10AM

One-third of Kiwi women forced to miss school, work because of period poverty

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 1 Nov 2018, 7:10AM

A new survey has found one-third of Kiwi girls are forced to skip school or work when they have their period because they can't afford sanitary products.

The KidsCan survey is the first to quantify exactly how many young girls and women are struggling with period poverty.

CEO Julie Chapman told Kate Hawkesby period poverty is another hardship creating barriers to education for girls.

"The key issue right now is making sure that those girls that are in need have access to free products so they can get to school."

She said this is just one of the issues facing women in poverty.

"We know that poverty is a huge issue and, I guess, this is just one of the things when we talk about material hardship and poverty which we are seeing that is creating another barrier to getting to school and having an education."

Sanitary products are currently taxed as a luxury item in New Zealand.

However, the first step to helping girls and women is providing free sanitary products in schools, Chapman said.

"I think the key issue right now is making sure those girls, that are in need, have access to free products and can get to school."

"We have been running a programme for four years which provides free products into schools."

"We would like to expand that, on the back of this survey, because we know that perhaps we aren't getting to everyone so I think that's the first step before we look outside that at what else we can do."

KidsCan currently provides close to 20,000 packets of sanitary items a year but are calling on the Government to help them increase that number.

LISTEN ABOVE AS JULIE CHAPMAN SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY

 

 

 

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