Kao Laurier to help combat period poverty in Malaysia

KAO Laurier Malaysia joined hands with Yayasan Perintis Malaysia (MyPerintis) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to launch the “Kebersihan Menstruasi Adalah Hak Wanita” (Menstrual Hygiene is a Woman’s Right) movement to address the issue period poverty.

Despite aspirations for Malaysia to progress as a high income and developed nation, period poverty remains a stumbling block faced by a significant percentage of women in Malaysia.

A survey by WASH United, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (Waggs) and UNICEF found that 47% of menstruating women found it more difficult to access menstrual supplies since the pandemic.

KAO (Malaysia) President, Itou Hirofumi said that the movement is a timely effort to raise  awareness that period poverty is not merely a women’s issue, but a national issue.

The movement seeks to rally the public in a nationwide collective effort to spark conversations and action around period poverty, specifically for the benefit of university students from the B40 community. 

“Today, we continue to extend our commitment to uplift young women in higher education institutions by addressing the lack of access to the most basic of hygiene care needs,” Itou Hirofumi said.

KAO Laurier Malaysia is pledging to donate a pack of its Laurier Night Safe range for every pack  purchased by consumers, with a goal to donate sanitary products valued at RM150,000 to empower 20,000 young women in over 20 public universities across Malaysia.

Research analyst Amanda Yeo from EMIR Research observed that with on-going financial distress arising from Covid-19, many people would prioritise spending on basic needs over menstrual products.

With no proper access to menstrual products, many would not be able to concentrate on studies. Worries about menstrual leaks or period pain may lead some to stay at home and skip classes. If this problem persists, more young girls might drop out of school.

The movement hopes to ensure that young university students from the B40 community will never have to skip class or miss activities on the account of not being able to afford sanitary products.

Consumers have  the opportunity to contribute throughout the campaign period which runs from 15 November 2021 to 31 January 2022. 

“Together with our community partners and the Rakyat, KAO Laurier Malaysia hopes to lift the barriers that hinder young women from living fulfilling lives by making hygiene care more accessible.

We invite all Malaysians to join us in this journey to uplift our young women in the  community who deserve the basic right to hygiene care essentials and to the right to feel confident and beautiful in body and mind always. By doing so, we invest in a better future as a progressive nation,” Ito added.

Founding Chairman of Yayasan Perintis Malaysia YBhg Dato’ Lawrence Low said he was deeply touched with KAO Laurier Malaysia’s passion in ensuring empowerment towards women in overcoming the longest standing problem of period poverty.

“Together with  MyPerintis reaching out to the community and grass roots, we will ensure the highest benefits are channeled directly to the women in need specifically in this campaign for them in universities across the nation.” Dato’ Lawrence Low said.

The movement’s collaborative partners, MyPerintis and MoHE, will serve as enablers to ensure  the hygiene care essentials reach student communities in need at the end of the collection period.

For past 27 years, KAO Laurier Malaysia has dedicated it’s efforts at supporting young girls in primary and secondary schools through it’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programme. It has touched the lives of over 2 million students, from over 8,000 schools educating them in hygiene care through it’s programme.

Its latest movement is an extension to the ESG programme, now evolving into an area of need in higher education institutions across Malaysia.