Menstrual Poverty

Last night when I was scrolling through Instagram I came across this interesting news about Spain proposing a law entitling women to go on a three-day leave due to menstrual cramps. In 2019, a study of nearly 43,000 women in Netherlands found that 85% experienced painful periods. I for one suffer in painful silence when this monthly visitor come knocking every time. At present, Japan, South Korea and Zambia are among the few countries already offering menstrual leave.

As soon as a girl turns 12, this pain hovers around like a shadow and eventually no one is spared from this reality. The pain is one thing, everything that comes with it is another story. From the sanitary napkins or tampons, Tylenol or pain relievers, the inanity of working around the pain sometimes becomes unbearable. So, when I stumbled upon this piece of news about Spain, a tinge of hope washed over. I wish my country afforded me the same care. I wish all country did. Imagine the women in warring countries. In Ukraine and all other countries suffering from all sorts of unrest. How do these women deal with their plight? The more important question is, what is our governments doing to protect women?

Are we prepared to wake up to a society with women dysfunctional and writhing in pain in a regular basis? What would become of us?

Health care is a global issue that should never take the backburner. If people are deep in their necks mired in poor health care system, how will they become productive citizens? If the labor force is too sick to show up to work, what kind of work will they produce? If there are no enough hospitals, proper medications, quality health services, how can a nation thrive or sustain longevity?

by: Joanna Cabredo