Period poverty is an overlooked global health issue that directly interrelates with global poverty. Worldwide, 500 million girls lack menstrual products and/or proper sanitary conditions. With 2.2 million women in Panama, period poverty in Panama is a real threat to the nation’s national health.

Four key indicators monitor a country’s menstrual health:

1. Awareness and education. Girls who are unprepared for their menstrual cycles are more likely to feel a sense of shame and social isolation.
2. Regular access to menstrual products. Tampons, pads and cups are crucial for women’s health. Without access to these products, many women and girls resort to unsanitary practices, which result in dangerous health issues.
3. A sanitary space for females to change and dispose of their products, which helps them avoid shame and maintain proper menstrual hygiene.
4. The ability to continue with education and other important social/cultural activities despite menstruating, which is crucial to women’s well-being.

When assessing Panama’s limited data regarding menstrual health through the lens of these four indicators, the results are disappointing. Kelly Hernandez, a Panamanian advocate for ending period poverty, estimates that more than 150,000 Panamanian girls do not meet these four indicators.

The Enemy? Poverty.

Panama’s overall poverty is continuing to exacerbate these health issues, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. In 2019, the poverty rate was only $6.85 a day in 2017 PPP and primarily impacted indigenous communities such as Ngäbe-Buglé. Children and adolescents are also primary victims of the enemy of poverty, with an estimated 32.8% living in poverty, 25% of which live on Indigenous land.

In a world of increasing natural disasters and pandemics, the instability of equitable health care only gets worse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was quoted that “women have to choose between buying a pound of rice or a pack of feminine sanitary pads.”

Days for Girls in Panama

Ending poverty in Panama is not simple; there needs to be major changes in education, governance, distribution and more. While these facts and figures may seem overwhelming, one can begin to help put a stop to period poverty in Panama.

The aforementioned Kelly Hernandez is a women’s health ambassador for an organization called Days for Girls. Days for Girls is a global nonprofit that seeks to “eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation so that women and girls have improved health, education and livelihoods.” Its work spans 145 countries where it introduces and donates reusable and sanitary pads, provides health education services, and encourages local leadership and community programs. The organization also advocates for better policy and health research. Because Days for Girls is a nonprofit, it depends on donor support for money and supplies. Evidently, Days for Girls is not a permanent solution, but it is a promising start.

Endeavors for a Bright Future

While there is no overnight solution to combating period poverty in Panama, one can help make a difference by learning more about powerful organizations like Days for Girls, as well as educating oneself and others and staying updated with the latest developments. By sharing information, we can encourage others to learn more about powerful NGOs like Days for Girls and help boost their outreach. 

Poverty is the number one enemy of Panama, but to go to war with poverty, humans need to first examine who is primarily being affected and how poverty is being inflicted on the 4.4 million Panamanians who call it home. Women and girls in Panama struggle to gain and maintain access to quality health care. This lack of necessary care exacerbated other existing issues relating to poverty, such as discrimination toward Indigenous people and a decline in school attendance. Period poverty in Panama is deserving of global attention. Regardless of one’s identity or background, everyone deserves basic human rights, including access to menstrual products and sanitary services. 

– Piper Jenkins
Photo: Flickr