PETALING JAYA – Did you know, menstruation products such as pads and tampons are often not regarded as a basic necessity? This has caused period poverty as lower-income families struggle to obtain period products since the pandemic.
The inaccessibility of menstruation products unveiled by Twitter user @thaarshny. On Sunday (22 Aug), she tweeted her encounter with a 12-year-old girl.
While at 99 Speedmart to collect her items, @thaarshny noticed a young girl hanging around the place.
She looked completely lost. On my way back to my car, I saw her again.”
Concerned, @thaarshny approached the little girl and asked her if she was okay. The young girl explained to her that she lacked the money to buy a sanitary pad.
Without hesitation, @thaarshny went back to the store to get her some.
It broke my heart when I saw the girl cry after I bought the sanitary pad. She claimed she was in terrible pain and couldn’t afford to buy it. It’s completely heart-breaking. She is just 12.”
According to the girl, her mother was admitted to a quarantine centre. Meanwhile, her grandmother is taking care of her and her siblings.
This story has led many netizens to worry over the girl’s financial constraints. @thaarshny assured them that the family is receiving help from others too.
Netizens were moved by @thaarshny’s act of kindness. They praised her for helping the young girl.
The post has garnered almost 8k retweets and 10.9k likes. You can read it here.
So I went to 99 speedmart to get some stuffs. I noticed a malay girl standing outside the mart who appeared to be completely lost. I had just gone in, gotten my belongings, and was on my way back to my car and then, I saw the little girl again.
— ???? (@thaarshny) August 22, 2021
Cover Images via Twitter
Author: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Grace Choong
