Citing reports that some females in Jamaica are allegedly using banana leaves as sanitary napkins, a government senator has suggested that menstrual products be offered free of cost through two support programmes.  

Senator Sherene Golding Campbell said financially challenged women and girls should be given the option to access the product under the Programme of Advancement Through Health and education (PATH) and the National Health Fund (NHF). 

Speaking at this morning’s Sitting of the Upper House, she lamented that being unable to afford period products affects the work and school life of many females. 

The senator argued that supporting women and girls with affordable and accessible menstrual products should be on the national agenda. 

Senator Golding Campbell noted that while menstrual products have been exempted from tax, more can be done to reduce the cost of these items. 

She also called for a national study to be done to determine how many females are affected by period poverty in Jamaica, as well as the ways in which they are affected.