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Back to SearchOttawa, Canada – March April 17, 2020 – Period poverty is when economic conditions make it difficult or impossible for individuals to buy menstrual products. At CHEO, period poverty has ended. Menstrual products are readily available and free of charge — just another way CHEO is making things a little easier as we all navigate our lives in a pandemic world.
According to a recent study by Plan International Canada, one third of Canadians who menstruate under the age of 25 say they’ve struggled to afford menstrual products (pads and tampons).
“If you have your period, you need supplies, period (pun intended),” said Dr. Megan Harrison, Adolescent Health specialist at CHEO and associate professor at uOttawa. “I am so proud of CHEO for taking a leadership position on health equity. Youth and their families have been telling us that this matters to them; so we turned their suggestion into something real. I see kids having to choose between paying for the bus or menstrual products and others having to ration their households’ supply. The scenarios are never-ending.”
Some people don’t use menstrual products at all because they cannot afford them, while others use limited supplies incorrectly in effort to save money. Unsanitary measures taken during menstruation can have serious health consequences, including toxic shock syndrome, increased lower reproductive tract infections and outer skin infections. Not having access to proper sanitary products for menstrual hygiene can also impact one’s social and academic life, even their mental health.
Menstrual products are now available to whomever needs them at CHEO, just like diapers and toilet paper. Staff and medical staff can access the free supplies, too.
“It is so important to have menstrual products available to everyone in our community. It’s amazing to know that whatever you need is here [at CHEO] for you, whether you can’t afford the products or you just weren’t prepared and need some pads or tampons to make it through the day. It’s a simple thing to do to make the day so much easier for us,” said Libby V., 15 years old.
The cost of this initiative covered in CHEO’s operational budget.
About CHEO
Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research. Based in Ottawa, CHEO includes a hospital, children’s treatment centre, school and research institute, with satellite services located throughout Eastern Ontario. CHEO provides excellence in complex pediatric care, research and education. We are committed to partnering with families and the community to provide exceptional care — where, when and how it’s needed. CHEO is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, standardized and coordinated approach to pediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families. Every year, CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.
Media contact:
Paddy Moore
pmoore@cheo.on.ca
613-769-5553