IPOH: A total of 1,730 young women in Perak are facing period poverty, says Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin.

       The Perak social welfare committee chairman said among the issues faced are financial restraints and lack of information about menstruation and hygiene.

       "We realise that many of them are from the B40 families, where they are not only facing financial issues to purchase pads, but they also do not have well equipped facilities and privacy for disposing used pads.

       "As this is a crucial matter, the state, together with related agencies and departments, has planned several awareness campaigns and programmes to help them.

       "Not only do we have the programme within the community, but also at schools," she said in her reply to Wong May Ing (PH-Pantai Remis) during a question-answer-session at the state assembly sitting here on Friday (Dec 17).

       She said among the programmes held is KafeTEEN@PIK by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission to advocate and share information about period management.

       "The programme was held online, where there were 576 participants involved.

       "Apart from that, Perak Wanita also held a 12 webinar series on sexual and reproductive health education together with Institut Darul Ridzuan, where we covered both women and children’s health.

       "The Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) also had taken the initiative to offer a one-off aid to affected B40 families, where they were given pads, pampers and baby formula milk," she said, adding that the state together with Perak Wanita secretariat is planning to give basic health kits for women who are facing period poverty.

       In her additional question to Wan Norashikin, Wong asked if there were cases of period poverty that led to girls being absent from school.

       "Since there are reports saying that many schoolgirls miss their classes during their period, do we have the same case in Perak?" she said.

       Wan Norashikin said although the state doesn’t have the exact figure, there have been cases reported about schooling girls missing their classes due to menstruation.

       "There have been cases reported not only via the state welfare department, but also from the Education Department.

       "We hope that through the programmes we have in planning, it will further help those who are affected by period poverty," she said.

       In her answer to Jamilah Zakaria (BN- Trong), who suggested that the state consider producing reusable pads and selling them at a lower price, Wan Norashikin said the suggestion will be put into consideration.

       "The idea is definitely good, where we might also be able to help women in the state to start a business making reusable pads and selling them together with menstrual cups.

       "But we will need to do more research, including checking on clean water supplies for reusable pads,” she said.