Period Poverty. A global issue that is constantly disregarded because of all the stigma surrounding it. Period poverty is an issue that affects people who menstruate who cannot afford or have access to sanitary products or are unable to handle their periods with dignity due to community stigma. The ones affected by this issue are shunned continuously, from basic activities to their education pummeling down just because of a basic necessity that everyone deserves. However, the world is not prepared to offer. 

Menstrual hygiene is a public health concern. To have proper menstrual hygiene, people need clean water, soap, appropriate sanitary products, and areas to dispose of used products. Period poverty means countless people do not have the chance to keep up good menstrual hygiene; this is a leading factor to infections and the use of dangerous alternatives such as cotton balls, rags, and used products. This practice is very threatening to one's health. 

Menstrual hygiene accessibility is very expensive in Kenya; most of the population lives off less than 200 shillings a day. The average cost of a pack of 14 pads costs around 120 to 200 shillings in Kenya. On top of school fees, rent, food, water, and more, pads become a luxury for people who menstruate. Furthermore, community stigma also gets in the way of product accessibility, for example, stores not supplying them or practices that completely shun menstruating people from their community until they are done menstruating. Another example of community stigma and accessibility is female students missing out on their education because of the shame and embarrassment society has imposed on them. For example, in an interview conducted by Aljazeera: "Some of my classmates get their periods in class, and the boys mock them, which is why some students do not attend class during this time." Says Mary Asigi, a female student in Kenya with personal experience.

In addition to missing school, these students will either fall back and repeat grades or altogether drop out. It is harder to find a stable job, and being somebody who menstruates and has a steady job becomes another luxury. This luxury is a human right being violated, The right to a standard of living adequate for one's health and well-being. Adding on, students who stay home have a much higher chance of being subjected to violence, sexual exploitation, child marriage, teen pregnancy, having intercourse in exchange for sanitary products, and many other dangerous situations. 

The issue of period poverty in Kenya is a rising problematic matter that needs to be more addressed and talked about by people of all genders regardless of whether you are a menstruating person or not. The government has tried but failed continuously to make matters better, and as a result, change is not happening. For this reason, we need to start conversations and make people uncomfortable to overcome this stigma.