Women in Arakan face difficulties due to scarcity of sanitary pads

Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 25 September 2024

The women in  Arakan State are struggling to obtain sanitary pads as the items become costly and scarce in the market.

Just before the recent battles in the Arakan region, a pack of sanitary pads cost over Kyats 1,000 and now it costs Kyats 5,000 to 7,000.

A woman from Lay Gwa Sone village under  Rathedaung township told Narinjara News that she cannot afford sanitary pads  because of high prices and hence uses clothes for the same.

“In rural areas, most of the women can’t afford the sanitary pads. Often the shops run out of supplies and thus forcing them to use clothes instead. I worry if the long-term use of clothes harms our health,” she added.

She also mentioned if they do not find sanitary pads available, they prefer to stay inside rather than going out for daily works.

“Often the women stay at home without using pads. Society also has many stigmas about the menstruation of a lady. There are many other difficulties as well,” she stated.

Following the recent battles, the military junta blocked the land and waterways and it created the shortages of different goods including sanitary pads in the Arakan region.

As the intense fighting is  going on in various parts of Arakan State, most people become jobless. Due to the increasing price of sanitary pads, many women start using alternatives like clothes.

Daw Ma Pu from an internally displaced Muslim camp in Myebon told Narinjara News that they are using only clothes as they do not have sanitary pads.

“Women need personal care products including underwear. We haven’t received support for sanitary pads and hence used the clothes. We can’t afford the prices as well. We will appreciate it if any assistance arrives,” she added.

Most women in IDP and Muslim camps in the Arakanese townships of  Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung and Ramree are facing difficulties in accessing sanitary pads for their use in need.

The health workers instructed that a sanitary pad should be used for five hours only. The long-term use of sanitary pads can increase the risk of ovarian and bladder cancer.

Photograph: Ponnagyun Youths Association (PYA) distributes sanitary pads to internally displaced persons (Photo: PYA)