Media Statement | 6 July 2021 | JOMcare!
Menstruation is an important physiological phenomenon for women. It is a normal and natural process which occurs every month until she reaches menopause. On average, a woman will have approximately 500 periods in her lifetime which is equivalent to about 3,500 days. That is around 10 years of a woman’s life that will be spent menstruating!
With the ongoing economic ramifications of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the income of some households are greatly affected and they may even struggle to put food on the table. Affected households will look for ways to reduce household expenditure to ensure they are able to survive for another day. However, menstrual hygiene should not be neglected just to make ends meet.
Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to fungal or bacterial infections of the reproductive and urinary tracts. It can also cause skin irritation and discomfort which can result in dermatitis, a medical condition where the skin swells and becomes sore with blisters. As such, sanitary napkins are essential even in hard times to maintain good menstrual hygiene.
However, sanitary napkins can put a strain on a family’s finances especially if they are already finding it difficult to make ends meet. On average, a woman needs to use 3 to 5 sanitary napkins a day. Periods can last up to 8 days which means up to 40 sanitary napkins may be used each month. With sanitary napkins costing RM1 each on average including pantyliner, around RM40 per month would need to be put aside to ensure menstrual hygiene is not compromised.
Women are the pillars of every family. As mothers, wives and daughters, they care for us unconditionally and ensure each household member is safe and healthy always. As a father, a husband and a son, I strongly believe that menstrual hygiene is extremely important for all women. It is now our turn to look after the health of the women in our lives.
Therefore, I am very proud to support JPWK Tanjong Bunga’s programme JOMcare! where we show our appreciation for the mothers, wives and daughters in our lives who tirelessly put everyone else’s needs first and also to educate the younger generations on the importance of menstrual hygiene. A total of 100 needy recipients will receive a women’s care kit containing 3 different types of sanitary napkins, menstrual tablets and vitamins.
Let’s keep the women in our lives healthy and strong always.
Zairil Khir Johari
Penang State EXCO for Infrastructure and Transport cum State Assemblyman for Tanjong Bunga
JOMcare！新闻稿
月经是女性重要的生理期，是每个月正常且自然的周期，直到进入更年期。一般上，女性一生中来月经的次数约500次，相等于3500天左右，即女人一生中来月经约10年。
随着冠病疫情打击，不少家庭的收入受影响，一些人甚至三餐都出了问题。为此，大家为了活下来，而寻求减少家庭开支的各种方法。惟，经期卫生却不能因为要减少开支，维持生计，而被忽视。
月经卫生欠佳会导致生殖道和泌尿道受细菌感染，甚至还可能引起皮肤过敏和不适，致使皮肤炎，即皮肤因水泡而肿胀和疼痛。因此，就算处在困境中，也必须保持经期卫生，卫生巾是不可或缺的必需品。
然而，卫生巾对一些难以维持生计的家庭而言，是一种财务负担。一般上，来月经的女性每天需要使用至少3至5片卫生巾。女性的经期最长可达8天，这也意味着每个月需要40片的卫生巾。假设卫生巾、卫生护垫每片平均售价为1令吉，那么每个月就必须预留40令吉购买卫生巾、卫生护垫，以确保经期卫生。
女性是每个家庭的支柱，身为一名母亲、妻子和女儿，她们会照顾一家大小，确保家里的每个人都安全和健康。身为一名父亲、丈夫和儿子，我坚信经期卫生对所有女性都极为重要。现在，轮到我们来照顾在我们生活中的女性了。
因此，我感到非常荣幸，有机会支持丹绒武雅妇女与家庭发展委员会（JPWK）的“JOMcare！”计划。借此，我们感谢生活中的母亲、妻子和女儿，她们从不厌倦的把所有人的需求放在首位，同时也要让年轻女性更了解经期卫生的重要性。我们推出100份女性护理包，内有3大种类卫生巾、月经丸和维生素，让百名女性受惠。
我们一起让周围的女性都拥有健康和强壮的体魄吧！
再里尔
槟州基设与交通事务委员会主席兼丹绒武雅州议员