About 3,000 girls aged 11-18 are admitted to the hospital every year, BKUS said. "Out of concern for their welfare and health, the hospital has launched a project to provide free hygiene products to girls and women to prevent the inconvenience and health risks that can arise when hygiene products are not available," BKUS said, explaining that there is still a stigma in society to talk about these issues, so it is important that hygiene products are freely available without the need to involve other people.
Lāsma Līdaka, a gynecologist at BKUS, added that providing hygiene products in the hospital is important because the menstrual cycle is often irregular during adolescence, and girls cannot go home or buy hygiene products at any time while in hospital. At the same time, they do not always feel comfortable asking staff for help.
The project is implemented with the support of the hospital's sponsor, TZMO Foundation Together We Change the World, and the feminine hygiene brand Bella. At the moment it is important to estimate the amount of hygiene products needed so that it is clear how much support is needed in the future.
Last year, a citizens' initiative to provide free sanitary products to girls in schools was presented to the Parliament. It is expected that publicly funded hygiene kits will be available in schools from next year.
Some schools have already started to provide them at their own expense and a pilot project is underway in some schools to provide these items free of charge.
