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Period poverty affects people all over the world. These women of color are working to end it

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Period Poverty, Menstrual Health Awareness Month, Menstrual Health Equity, Black Women's Health and Wellness, Flow Initiative, Free Menstrual Products, theGrio.com

When Sabrina Natasha Browne runs out of menstrual hygiene products, she, like many people, goes to CVS and pays the $12-15 it may cost to restock. Four years ago, she didn’t realize what number of menstruating women simply couldn’t walk right into a pharmacy and walk out with the menstruation products they needed, especially in her community of Hoboken, New Jersey.

A New Jersey specialist said her eyes were opened when she participated in a volunteer produce collection event organized by The Hoboken Girl and Flow initiativea national nonprofit organization based in New Jersey.

“As a volunteer, I immediately motivated my network to donate thousands of products to those in need,” she added.

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Browne didn’t stop there. She eventually became a partner in The Flow Initiative, working with founder Eiko La Boria to end period poverty for all. In particular, she works on organizational partnerships and increases consumer awareness of period poverty across the country.

“I’m proud to be a partner with The Flow Initiative and to be at the forefront of the menstrual health movement with Eiko as we work to end period poverty,” she explained.

Browne described period poverty as “a public health problem in which women, girls and people who menstruate do not have access to products that support menstrual health, including sanitary pads, tampons and sanitary pads.”

She added that this can be a global problem, affecting adults and kids. More or less two out of five teenage girls admitted they couldn’t afford menstrual products, one in five may miss school because of their period, and one other 44% said they felt embarrassed or ashamed about not having access to products. When women do not have reliable access to high-quality menstrual health products, it can impact their ability to go to school, work and contribute to society.

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(From left to right) Sabrina Natasha Browne and Eiko La Boria. (Photo: Flow Initiative)

“Period poverty can impact a person in several ways, including disruptions to education, health problems, psychological impacts, economic mobility, and stigma and social isolation,” La Boria shared in an email. “The financial burden of purchasing menstrual products can strain limited household resources, exacerbating poverty.”

Period poverty is a public health issue that will disproportionately affect Black and Brown women and women of lower income status on this country. This may not only be access to the right products, but in addition the right tools to cope with symptoms comparable to pain from cramps.

“Even if a Black woman has access to menstrual products, the symptoms themselves can impact her education, work and personal life. But when these symptoms are compounded by period poverty, the losses can be even greater,” Browne wrote in an email.

While period poverty may accompany poverty generally, “it is not something that discriminates. I’m sitting here and I say, ‘Well, there’s a hot spot in this one particular state.’ Every state struggles with period poverty,” Browne explained.

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The Flow Initiative, launched by La Boria in New Jersey in 2018, goals to end period poverty and further promote menstrual health equity. The national nonprofit uses a three-pronged approach to get to the heart of the problem. First of all, it helps deliver products. It then provides education on menstrual health and hygiene. The final step in her approach is to influence policy.

Last 12 months, The Flow Initiative marked the anniversary of his death New Jersey Bill A1349which requires all public schools to provide students in grades 6 through 12 with free menstrual health products. The bill also requires the state to cover the costs, which Browne said “relieves the burden on schools.”

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“From my perspective, we’ve seen that women, girls and people who menstruate feel this particularly at the school level because it’s a big part of what we do,” Browne added.

She explained that students “miss school, career development, and the opportunities that come with not having access to products. And now New Jersey is one of the first states to really chart a path where hopefully other states will replicate and pass similar laws.”

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Universal laws could also potentially lead to greater public understanding of menstruation. Browne noted that half of the world’s population menstruates, yet there continues to be rampant misinformation and inadequate education.

Browne said that when organizing events, The Flow Initiative is inundated with questions, from general questions on periods to advice on the best products.

Period Poverty, Menstrual Health Awareness Month, Menstrual Health Equity, Black Women's Health and Wellness, Flow Initiative, Free Menstrual Products, theGrio.com
Sabrina Natasha Browne distributing menstrual health products. (Photo: Flow Initiative)

“In doing this work and talking to some of my peers, I learned how many of them either had periods but didn’t know what it was,” Browne noted. “I mean in each of our experiences, when you think about where (you were when) you got your first period: ‘Who helped me?’ “Who listened to me?” For some of us, these are moments of pride and excitement. For others, it may bring back pain and sadness.”

Browne, who’s of Liberian and Belgian descent, said she grew up in a house where menstruation was not shameful. She was raised with enough supplies, not stigma, and was given the number 101 by her grandmother. La Boria, a Puerto Rican woman, didn’t know the details of menstruation until her first period, when her mother, who worked as a nurse, explained to her that it would occur every month.

“I was devastated and irritated,” she said. “It inspired me to provide young people with the education to know what is happening to their bodies, the ability to properly manage their menstrual cycles and understand the enormous responsibility that comes with it.”

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Since its inception, the Flow initiative has made quite a few advances. To date, the organization has distributed over 1.3 million menstrual health products, conducted just over 300 workshops, and, as well as to successfully supporting the passage of Bill A1349, helped organize New Jersey’s official Menstrual Health Equality Day on May 28.

They also had the opportunity to partner with major players in the menstrual health market, including U by Kotex and Period.org. Other partners include Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and more.

Browne said that from White House meetings to influencing local policy, the Flow Initiative has managed to establish itself as a “credible national player” in the mission for menstrual health equity.

“We are credible, we are compassionate. We are on the front lines of this work. And that is what the brands which have worked with us appreciate,” she said.

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The initiative can be all the time relevant. As part of a social media campaign called ‘Voices for Change’, the organization is organizing a period products drive to secure £100,000 in funds to support students over the summer months. La Boria said they are also preparing for more initiatives.

“The Flow initiative is in an era of innovation and diversification of solutions. We are preparing exciting initiatives,” she said.

To learn more about period poverty and the way you possibly can support its efforts, visit the website Flow Initiative website.


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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Health and Wellness

The daughter says that my mother “gave me life twice” with a kidney donation as a couple a graduate of nursing together

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Over the years, Ambrealle Brown was forced to dizzy about becoming a nurse because of the life -threatening kidney disease that left her temporarily overpowered.

Among the inner doubts as as to if she ever returned to a normal life, Mother Brown entered and proposed the nerves. The doctors made the first robotic kidney transplant in Louisiana, giving Brown a again a probability to live, and Nija Butler is capable of see her daughter.

Almost two years after a successful transplant, mother and daughter from Louisiana shared one other journey. Putting white hats and dresses, they went through the stage throughout the Rouge Baton and graduated from the nursing school.

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“As parents, we always tell our children, we would die for you, and children do not always understand this kind of love,” said 48 -year -old Butler. “I would give her something to live. I mean it from the bottom of my heart, without thinking.”

During the interview with The Associated Press last month, two women thought of their joint journey and challenges that they defeated.

The Mother-daughter duo from Louisiana has throughout the least times been close. Butler gave birth to a daughter when she was in highschool, as a result of which they grew up together. Butler poured into the upbringing of her daughter and son, and Brown planned to differ into a nurse.

But in 2016, when the brownie was diagnosed with a branch -like glomerular segmental (FSGS), a rare kidney disease that may cause kidney failure, all of the thing modified. Her prognosis quickly worsened. One day Brown, who took the required courses for a nursing school, felt her legs tightened to such an extent that she couldn’t move.

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Shortly afterwards, the Brown doctor provided harmful messages: Brown would should begin out out out out dialysis or survive the kidney transplant. The average waiting for a kidney transplant throughout the US will even be from two to five years or longer, depending on some facets, based on data from the National Kidney Foundation.

Brown desperately hoped for a latest kidney. But when she waited for the news of the transplant, she was forced as an example to dialysis – treatment lasting from nine to 13 hours on on day-after-day basis basis. Brown’s on day-after-day basis life was limited and needed to stop school.

After years of dialysis, butler said that she saw a change in her daughter, who was normally optimistic.

“It was as if she wanted to give up,” butler remembered about a telephone conversation with her daughter. “She was simply tired of connecting to the tube that her life rotated.”

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Although the doctors had previously told Butler that he was probably not a match to differ into a kidney donor for his daughter, she still planned a meeting to be tested the following day. She decided not to tell her daughter, not wanting to lift hope in case it wasn’t a real match.

Soon after, Brown got news that she waited five years to take heed to – she got a latest kidney. She called her mother to tell her, but her mother already knew. Measured, Brown asked his mother how she would know.

“It’s me,” said Butler.

The Quavo Rocket Foundation honored mothers who lost their child for violence with a mourning pistol on a dead mother

They each underwent surgery in March 2023, when the Tulane University of Medicine Tulane did the first kidney transplantation using a robotic surgical system. Practice offers increased precision, as a result of which the procedure is barely invasive, hoping that there shall be less pain and faster recovery.

After a successful operation, Brown turned to highschool. Her mother also decided to amass a license of her registered nurse.

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For 16 months they were attached to the hip. They sat together, studied together, and in April they achieved the Rouge General School of Nursing Baton together.

“I couldn’t do it without her because the nursing school is difficult,” said 34 -year -old Brown. “I am glad that I could go through this milestone with her side by side.”

Brown took up work on the Burns Intensive Care Department, and Butler continues his occupation in a psychiatric institution.

Ladies hope that their story inspires others to resign, and as well as disseminated awareness of the importance of medical research as well as the donor and transplant process.

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“Thank you for gave me life twice,” said Brown to her mother. “I have to repeat it because you gave me a second chance to live, and most people don’t get slide.”

Butler wiped the tear and said without skipping the rhythm: “And I would do it again.”

Allyson Felix honors my mother, this Mother's Day with a real conversation about taking care of herself and the heroes' snack

(Tagstranslatate) black health and well -being

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

Why are we kissing during sleep?

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Ghettos

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Putting and turning into bed and random waking up at night is uncomfortable, but as compared with night sweat it could take the dough. Perhaps you suffered from night sweats once on a blue moon or more often; Despite the term, it have to be examined.

Although many different variables could cause night sweats, akin to menopause, home environment (temperature) or drinking alcohol, there’s also also more serious causes, akin to disease (infections and even cancer). To understand why we can sweat in a dream, we should check with several potential causes and prioritize the planning of a medical visit with a basic healthcare provider to know the cause. Talk to your doctor, in case you incessantly experience night sweats and throughout the event that they start to influence the usual of sleep, incessantly life or general health. When meeting a physician, give them problems or concerns about sleep so that you simply just just simply simply simply just just simply simply simply simply simply just just simply just just just simply simply just simply just simply just just just simply just just simply just just simply simply just just simply simply just just simply just just just just simply simply just just simply simply just just just just simply just just just simply simply simply simply just just just just simply simply just just simply just just just just simply just just simply simply simply just simply just simply simply just simply simply simply just just just just just just simply just just simply simply just just just just just simply simply just simply just just just simply simply simply simply just just simply simply just simply simply simply just just just just just just just simply simply simply simply simply just just simply just just simply just simply just simply simply simply just simply just simply just just simply simply simply just simply just just just simply just just just just just just just just simply simply just just just simply just simply just simply simply just just just simply just simply just just just just simply simply simply just just just simply just simply just just just just just simply simply just simply just simply simply just simply just just simply simply just just just just just simply just simply simply just simply simply simply simply simply simply just simply just simply just just simply just just simply simply simply simply simply simply just simply simply simply simply simply just just just simply just just simply just just just simply simply simply simply just simply simply just simply simply simply simply just just just simply simply simply just simply just simply simply just just just just simply just just simply simply just simply just simply just simply simply simply just simply just just simply simply just simply just simply just just simply simply just just simply just just just just simply just just just simply just just just just simply simply simply simply just just just simply just simply simply just simply simply just simply just simply just simply simply simply just just just just just simply simply would supply you with with with the selection to be monitored for sleep apnea or insomnia. See the potential the rationale why you’d offer you the selection to sweat in a dream.

Monitor your sleeping environment: By experiencing night sweat, it’ll be vital to contemplate the sleeping environment. Think about these questions: where do you incessantly sleep? How many blankets do you likely can have? What is the temperature in your private home and bedroom? If you sweat while sleeping, attempt to adapt the sleep environment to make it cooler.

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Hormonal problems: According to Sleep foundationSweating is normal and integral throughout the adjustment of the body temperature. However, in case you sweat an excessive amount of, you’d offer you the selection to experience hormonal irregularities. According to National Center for Biotechnology, as much as 64% Women often report sleep problems and higher insomnia indicators during perimenopause and menopause.

Neurological problems: The reason for night sweats may thoroughly be conditions affecting the nervous system, akin to stroke or Parkinson’s disease (nerves threatened with the brain and spinal cord, which extend to the remaining of the body. In addition, all serious damage or injuries of the spinal cord can potentially cause night sweats.

Potential sleep disorders: Although it has not been proven that sleep disorders, Sleep foundation He informed that a third of people with obstructive sleep apnea (wasp) tends to occur regular night sweats – like people WASP Have difficulty respiratory while sleeping, causing drops of oxygen levels throughout the blood which could produce night sweats.

See easy ways to attempt to stop sweating in a dream:

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Monitor the sleep environment: Try to make your bedroom cool. Spread the window or sleep with a light-weight fan to make sure that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that the sleeping zone mustn’t be highly regarded.

Try to sleep naked: If you sweat at night, try sleeping naked or minimal pajamas.

Consume fluid: Drink a glass of cold water before bedtime, not alcohol.

Think about what you eat: Try to avoid caffeine, spicy food and hot drinks before bedtime.

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Align your fitness routine: Exercises during the day or early throughout the evening, but not only before bedtime.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

The study states that ingredients causing cancer in many products sold to black women

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The recent study reveals that greater than half of black women and Latina repeatedly surveyed in Los Angeles Use personal hygiene products containing known cancer cancer.

Journal Lists of environmental sciences and technology published Study at On March 7, revealing that out of 64 women surveyed, 53% reported using shampoos, nutrients, whitening creams, eyelash glue and other products containing formaldehyde and formaldehyde components that are known cause cancer in humans.

“It is really disturbing that we deliberately place chemicals that release a carcinogenic factor to our products that we use every day”, ” Robin Dodson, Deputy Director for Research in Silent Spring Institutenon -research process, examining the environmental causes of breast cancer NPr.

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ResearcherS collected data in 2021 disproportionately exposed For formaldehyde in cosmetic products compared to white women. Experts suspected that the frequent use of chemical hair loosens containing formaldehyde releases by black women is one in all the the reason why they die of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer At much higher rates than their white counterparts.

In a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EEC), non -profit organizations, environmental agency, Scientists found that from 4011 personal hygiene products sold to black women, only 21% They were evaluated as a low threat in EWG’s Skin Deep® Cosmetics database.

The FDA announced its plans to propose a formaldehyde ban in 2023. The proposed ban was geared toward protect From health threats with chemical use. The agency planned to implement a proposal in April 2024, but he met with many delays. Last yr, EEC condemned FDA for his failure implement the ban.

“Despite the overwhelming evidence of formaldehyde risks during hair treatment, the FDA did not consistently work definitely,” EEC wrote in a press release.

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From May 2025, the agency has not implemented the proposalEd Ban. Europe banned formaldehyde as a cosmetic component in 2009.

(Tagstranslatate) black women

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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