Fiji sisters seek dignity following disaster

Fiji is battling the impacts of both the Covid-19 pandemic and Cyclone Harold, which left widespread devastation when it struck the country in April.

Thousands of workers have lost their jobs due to the pandemic with Fijian women reportedly struggling to afford sanitary products.

This has prompted two sisters in Suva to take action.

16-year-old AnnMary and 13-year-old Faith Raduva have started a "dignity kit" campaign to support those affected by the pandemic and Cyclone Harold.

AnnMary Raduva says it all came together one April morning when they were out shopping for sanitary pads.

She said they both noticed there were hardly any pads to choose from and they cost more than before the pandemic had hit.

"It's sad we have to see this happening as many people we spoke to said priority for them is to put food on the table."

Shortage of sanitary products

The minimum wage in Fiji is $US1.10 an hour and women have reported that prices of sanitary products have increased from $US1.40 to $US4 a packet.

AnnMary said for a family that's struggling financially, those "extra dollars can be stretched to buy an extra loaf of bread, canned tuna and a slice of butter".

Girls rights charity Plan International Australia said there were shortages of female hygiene products in the Pacific and that the price of pads and tampons had risen.

A report by the organisation found there was a lack of access to basic information and services about menstrual hygiene management during the pandemic.

It also found that many women could not buy hygiene products as they had to pay food and bills.

Food over pads

AnnMary and Faith Raduva decided women and girls should not have to choose "food over pads".

With the help of their parents, they started the Lagilagi Relief Campaign, Lagilagi being Faith's middle name who is "the brains behind the campaign".

"Our campaign was born on the day TC Harold destroyed many homes and livelihoods in April," AnnMary said.

She said they learned that women and girls had to move to evacuation centres and "we also learned that girls were unable to afford pads because food was a priority.

"They had to resort to making their own makeshift pads from toilet paper, newspaper and socks."

Following the cyclone, the sisters assembled and distributed over 300 of their "dignity kits" to affected families.

AnnMary said the feedback has been empowering and sad.

She said the women and girls couldn't access sanitary care items during the cyclone, and the Covid-19 lockdown and curfew had restricted access to cargo especially with distribution to the outer islands.

"Women and girls are often ignored when it comes to disaster recovery assistance. But we have fathers and brothers who contact us as well to donate the kits for their mothers, sisters or their female cousins as a gift."

The sisters have raised money to produce more than 600 dignity kits. But its has been a challenge, AnnMary said.

"When we first started, we had aimed for 50 kits but could only manage 30.

"The zip-lock bags each kit contain two packets of pads, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes."

The sisters use their monthly allowance to buy supplies and AnnMary said they had also received donations from family, friends and Asealeo Care Fiji, the distributor of Libra pads, who donated 42 cartons (1008 pads) to the campaign.