Lack of access to menstrual hygiene products is a reality for many women around the world. To try to mitigate this problem in Brazil, the Federal Government released on Monday (19) the criteria established for the distribution of absorbents for free, aiming to serve approximately 24 million people in situations of social vulnerability.
What are the criteria for distribution?
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This program is aimed at the population living on the street or in poverty, who are registered in the CadÚnico, students from municipal, state and federal public schools, in addition to those belonging to low-income families, who are serving socio-educational measures or in the penal system.
Pads will be available at units of the Unified Social Assistance System, health clinics, public schools, prisons and institutions responsible for socio-educational measures.
It is important to emphasize that the acquisition of absorbents must comply with the quality standards of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The Ministry of Health will calculate the average amount of pads used per person and the duration of the
menstrual cycle.Guarantee of basic health care
The lack of access to pads and adequate resources during the menstrual cycle can lead to negative consequences for women's health and well-being, as well as their access to education and employment opportunities.
In September 2021, the Senate approved a project that provided for the free distribution of pads to women in socially vulnerable situations and low-income students from the public network.
However, the then president, Jair Bolsonaro, vetoed some parts of the project, justifying that there were questions about the public interest.
In March of this year, the veto was overturned and the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, issued a decree that establishes Law nº 14.214/21, creating the Health Protection and Promotion Program Menstrual.
According to the current government, the objective of this program is to eliminate the inaccessibility of hygiene products and items necessary for use during the menstrual period, in addition to ensuring equal access to menstrual hygiene products and improving women's quality of life. women.
In addition, courses are being planned for civil servants, with the aim of training them on the importance of ‘menstrual dignity’, as well as advertisements to publicize the program, aimed at promoting health awareness menstrual.