KUCHING: Menstruation is a normal process that needs to be acknowledged by all segments of society, including men, to remove the stigma associated with it.
Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said there is a need to enhance understanding among the public so that women can feel confident even during their menstrual cycles.
The stigma, particularly prevalent in rural areas, prompts some women to keep people from knowing they are having their menses.
“It still happens, leading to female students skipping school due to embarrassment and fear of leaks,” she said while launching the Kotex Teen Love Programme: She Can Project here, today (Jan29).
According to her, the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) has released a Study on Menstrual Management Status involving 130,000 female high school students.
Based on the report, 9.9 per cent of teenage girls nationwide face challenges in obtaining menstrual management products.
“In Sarawak, we found that the state has the highest percentage (in terms of) lack of access to menstrual management products, at 15.2 per cent.
“From the information we have, many students cannot afford to buy sanitary napkins, and the Kotex Teen Love Programme will assist this group,” she said.
Therefore, she added, the Ministry is collaborating with Kimberly-Clark to supply Kotex santiary napkins to students to help them overcome the challenges they face.
“At the same time, we are collaborating with schools, including those in rural areas, by distributing sanitary napkins because we know they also need them but face difficulties due to limited access,” she explained.
A total of 1,000 participants, including 300 male students from 22 schools, attended the programme to raise awareness and understanding of the issue.
Also present was the Managing Director of Kimberly-Clark Malaysia, Lim Yu Chien.
