A recent piece by Periódico Girón of Matanzas highlights the daunting challenges and exorbitant costs faced by Cuban women in obtaining menstrual hygiene products amid the country's severe crisis. In the article titled “What Does It Cost to Menstruate in Cuba?”, the state-run outlet lays bare the dire shortage of sanitary pads in the province and the resulting economic strain.
Throughout 2023, pharmacies in Matanzas did not receive a single shipment of sanitary pads, and deliveries in 2024 have been sporadic at best, with only 63,696 packages in April and 15,984 in August. These numbers fall woefully short of meeting the needs of the 82,495 menstruating women in the province.
According to the report, Cuba's Public Health System is supposed to ensure the regulated sale of domestically produced sanitary pads through pharmacies at a price of 1.20 pesos per package. However, the lack of imported materials has slashed production to a bare minimum, unable to meet demand. In response to this predicament, women are turning to the informal market or small private businesses (Mipymes), where a package of sanitary pads can cost between 400 and 1,000 pesos, equivalent to 10 to 30 percent of an average Cuban woman's monthly income.
This situation is a stark reflection of the living conditions endured by the Cuban populace, as the regime continues to display its inefficacy while urging more sacrifices and patience from its citizens. Sanitary pads are not a luxury; they are a hygienic and medical necessity to which women must have access, as biology does not conform to political timelines. The shortage of sanitary pads is compounded by the lack of other essential products like toiletries, condoms, and medications, among a long list of necessities.