Second Annual Feminine Hygiene Initiative Addresses Period Poverty
Every month, women, girls, and other menstruators of a certain age must contend with the various effects of their “cycle,” which requires having access to an assortment of feminine hygiene products. Many women, girls, and transgender individuals are not able to easily access these items that are needed on a monthly basis. Over the past two years, COVID-19 has compounded the difficulties that some of these individuals face, particularly where limited resources can mean choosing between these monthly necessities and feeding one’s family.
![Many women, girls, and transgender individuals are not able to easily access feminine hygiene products that are needed on a monthly basis. The Feminine Hygiene Initiative aims to address this issue.]()
Many women, girls, and transgender individuals are not able to easily access feminine hygiene products that are needed on a monthly basis. The Feminine Hygiene Initiative aims to address this issue.
“When you’re homeless and living in a shelter, these products are still necessary but they are extremely hard to come by,” said Tracey Straker, M.D., professor of anesthesiology at Einstein and director of general anesthesia and of the Advanced Airway Fellowship and Rotation at Montefiore. “That’s why our chapter of the Westchester Bronx Society of Black Physicians has teamed with the Einstein Student National Medical Association chapter and its Ob/Gyn Interest Group to hold our second annual Feminine Hygiene Initiative. Through our efforts and contributions from the community, we aim to provide these important feminine hygiene products to women and others who need them.”
Tracey Straker, M.D.
She added, “Our inaugural event raised over $12,000 and collected more than 20,000 feminine hygiene products. We were able to donate products to the Living Room and WIN shelters in the Bronx, as well as the ECHO Clinic run by the Einstein medical students. For Thanksgiving 2021, we also we were able to supply the Stadium Shelter in the Bronx, through the CHAM Pediatric Welcome Bag initiative.”
WBSBP is part of the National Medical Association, the same organization through which the SNMA has its chapter. Throughout February and March, the two groups will be collecting feminine hygiene products—maxi pads, tampons, and feminine wipes—as part of the Feminine Hygiene Initiative, throughout our observations of Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
Addressing a Need
“As a future physician, I’m excited to work on the feminine hygiene product drive because it allows us to engage with community, address important social needs, and advocate for underprivileged communities,” said Diana Dominguez-Garcia, a first-year medical student and SNMA board member spearheading this year’s activities.
She added, “Recent studies showed that nearly 1 in 4 teen-age students who menstruate, and 1 in 10 college women, were unable to access period products during the pandemic. Lack of access to menstrual products affects other areas of life that can impact health, including school attendance.”
First-year medical student Kalin Ellison, who is president of Einstein’s ob/gyn interest group, agreed. “I’m passionate about the field of obstetrics and gynecology, which offers unique challenges for promoting women’s health,” she said. “I’m also eager to combat health disparities and this menstrual product drive provides a tangible way for us as students to address inequitable access to resources.”
Medical students Diana Dominguez-Garcia and Kalin Ellison
She added, “Menstrual equity is an important issue in the Bronx, where poverty presents difficulties for many, including approximately 19,000 individuals living in local homeless shelters. Women at shelters are often given just two pads for an entire cycle. The average woman goes through about 20 in that time period. This demonstrates a pertinent need in our community, and a valuable opportunity to for us to support vulnerable populations.”
“When one lacks access to these products, they must use whatever is at hand instead,” said Dr. Straker. “That can be humiliating and uncomfortable on its own. When you add in the stigma often associated with this very natural aspect of biology, it’s that much more difficult and demoralizing. We want to remove that component for these individuals.”
Ways to Contribute
Those wishing to make donations of needed products—which include maxi- or mini-pads, feminine wipes, tampons, and panty liners—can do so on Einstein’s Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, using the bins located in the Forchheimer lobby or at 1925/1935 Eastchester in the housing complex. At Montefiore, there are donation bins situated at the Moses Campus, outside of the Moses cafeteria or at the Wakefield Campus, opposite the nursing office.
The Einstein SNMA and Ob/Gyn Interest Group also will be setting up a way for volunteers to help assemble bags of the donated hygiene products. You can learn how you can take part by emailing diana.dominguez-garcia@einsteinmed.edu or kalin.ellison@einsteinmed.edu. For information about the initiative at Montefiore, please email tstraker@montefiore.org.
Contributions to the initiative’s Just Giving fund, supported by Montefiore also are welcome.
All donations will be collected throughout February and March. You can help make sure that having one’s period doesn’t sentence one to shame, discomfort, or an inability to take care of one’s basic healthcare needs.
Other Black History Month Events
During Black History Month, Einstein SNMA is also hosting a number of events toward continuing its commitment to offer information about Black history, promote the improvement of our Black community, and celebrate Black excellence. That has included participation in Einstein’s MLK Service Challenge, for which the chapter received top recognition for most service hours for a group; holding a Zoom to introduce the new SNMA board; hosting a screening of Black Men in White Coats, a documentary by Dale Okorodudu, M.D., discussing the systemic barriers that prevent Black men from becoming physicians and the subsequent impact; and hosting a virtual panel discussion, “Underrepresented Physicians,” featuring Einstein faculty members Oladimeji Oki, M.D., Deborah White, M.D., Shani Scott, M.D., Roger Duvivier, M.D., and Alecia Thompson, M.D., during which each panelist shared their experiences in medicine.
They also are hosting the following:
- Saturday, February 19 — Join a virtual trip to the African Burial Ground National Monument, the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for both free and enslaved Africans to learn about the history of slavery in New York. Or join a group trip to the site, in Manhattan. Register for either option here.
- Throughout February — Contribute to SNMA’s fundraising efforts in support of the North West Park Fire victims and families whose high-rise home was destroyed on January 9, 2022. The fire took the lives of 17 people, and injured 44, of whom 32 had life-threatening injuries. Donations can be made at: venmo.com/u/justin_olivera.
Posted on: Monday, February 14, 2022