Kenya has joined other countries in securing Covid-19 vaccines and has ordered 24 million doses from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This is enough to cover 20% of the country’s population. Acting director-general of health, Dr Patrick Amoth said that each dose will be about $3 (Sh320) and cost the country a total of Sh10 billion.
The amount is already heavily discounted by Gavi through donations from several developed countries, the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, among others. “The first to be vaccinated will be frontline workers, then the vulnerable and the elderly,” said Amoth. He, however, did not specify a timeframe but vaccines are expected early next year.
Amoth said that Gavi has signed agreements with manufacturers of about nine vaccine candidates. Kenya therefore did not dictate which vaccine to receive, but the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be ideal for the country because it fits within its cold chain supply system.
Acting Health DG Dr Patrick Amoth during a past COVID-19 press briefing. Photo courtesy of Citizen TV.
Kenya also launched clinical trials for the AstraZeneca vaccine in Kilifi in October. An emergency use approval is yet to be granted by the Health Ministry. “Once they get approval from the European Medicines Agency and in the UK, then we will also consider granting such authorization in Kenya,” said Amoth.
The announcement means Kenya has applied for the largest number of doses in East Africa. Last week on Thursday, Uganda’s Health Ministry, said it ordered 9 million doses to cover 20% of the country’s population. “Plans are underway to secure additional doses of the vaccine to cover more people,” said the Ugandan Ministry in a statement.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health Daniel Ngamije on Sunday also announced they had applied for either the AstraZeneca or the Moderna vaccine. He, however, did not say how many doses they had applied for but hoped they would be the among the first African countries to receive them.
VA medical syringe and a vial in front of the AstraZeneca Vaccine. Photo courtesy of Times
Egypt applied for 20 million doses from Gavi and expected to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. Gavi is supplying Covid-19 vaccines to 92 developing countries including Kenya through a facility called Covax. Covax was created by Gavi, UNICEF and the WHO to deliver two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2021. The facility says it has already secured millions of ready-made doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca candidate, ready for distribution to the 92 developing countries.
Experts say although there won’t be enough vaccines for every Kenyan, getting the shots to the right people could help tame the pandemic.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say that Moderna’s vaccine is safe and 95% effective, clearing the way for US emergency authorization.
This comes one day after Americans across the country began receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Once approved by the FDA vaccine panel, Moderna will become the second coronavirus vaccine to be allowed in the US and shipments could begin within 24 hours.
A patient receiving a dose of the Moderna Vaccine. Photo courtesy of New York Times
Moderna’s data was released by the FDA on Tuesday, ahead of the vaccine panel’s meeting to discuss the drug on Friday. The 54-page document said there were “no specific safety concerns” and that serious adverse reactions were rare. The data also suggests that its vaccine begins to prevent asymptomatic infections after the first dose. This is highly effective because this helps significantly slow the spread of the coronavirus. FDA analysts found that the Moderna vaccine was effective “across age groups, gender, racial and ethnic groups, and participants with underlying conditions”. In addition, the research “suggested benefit of the vaccine in preventing severe Covid-19.”
The issues of effectiveness against severe disease have been raised about the studies of vaccines for Covid. The Moderna study found 30 cases of severe disease in the control group, versus zero in the vaccine group.
The FDA found no specific safety concerns that would preclude its authorization of the vaccine. Most common side effects included injection-site pain, fatigue, headache and chills. Severe adverse reactions were rare but occurred more frequently after the second dose of the vaccine than after the first.
For instance, about 9.1% of vaccine recipients had an injection site reaction that was classified as “grade 3,”. This the FDA defines as severe of medically significant, but not immediately life-threatening. In comparison, fewer than 1% of the control group had grade 3 injection-site reactions. Some 16.5% of vaccine recipients had systemic adverse reactions – such as fever and fatigue- with the severity of at least grade 3 and 3.7% among the control group. Severe fatigue was more common after the second dose after the first. The FDA last week authorized emergency use of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, which began distribution this week.
Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna’s does not require ultra-cold storage during shipping. Instead, it requires temperatures of around -20C for shipping – similar to a regular freezer. The Pfizer vaccine requires temperatures closer to -70C, making transport logistics much more difficult.
A shipment of the Pfizer vaccine delivered to US on Monday. Photo courtesy of Wall Street Journal.
The primary goal of the studies of both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines was to measure whether they prevented symptomatic COVID-19 disease, including severe disease. However, people can still become infected affected and transmit the virus without showing any symptoms.
A Pfizer executive said last week that the company was studying whether its vaccine protects against asymptomatic Covid-19 and hope to complete the analysis early next year.
AFRICA’S LEADING WOMEN SERIES: African women who’ve served/are serving their countries in the capacities of President, Prime minister and/or Vice President.
Know them, appreciate them and remember them.
#THEAFRICANLEADINGWOMENSERIES
#31women #8articles
Initiated by Nyokabi Ng’ang’a, for The Involvement Newspaper.
PART 6
By Nyokabi Ng’ang’a (Leshnyokabi@gmail.com)
Thumbnail photo created by Nyokabi Ng’ang’a
Agnès Monique Ohsan-Bellepeau: Mauritius’s first elected female Vice President.
Photo courtesy of soundcloud.com
Ma’am Agnès Monique was believably born in 1942 in her country, Mauritius. She descends from a political family, with her father featured in Mauritius’s political history as one of the founders of one of the country’s four main political parties-Mauritian Labour Party. To her credit, she led the party as its president, purportedly from the years 2007 to 2010.
Having studied journalism as her area of profession, she worked as a news announcer at her country’s national television channel- Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation. Thereafter, in the year 2010, she was unanimously selected by Members of the National Assembly in a parliamentary election, as the first female Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius. She took up this elected role following the demise of Vice President Angidi Chettiar.
Serving under President Anerood Jugnauth, she rose to fill up the ranks of the country’s acting president, after the former resigned in the year 2012. Shortly after, Kailash Purryag was instated as President of the country, making Ma’am Agnès Vice President, once more. Later, on 29th May 2015, President Kailash Purryag resigned, making Ma’am Agnès, again, acting President of the Republic of Mauritius. However, this was short-lived, as, in June of the same year, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was instated as President of the country.
In the year 2016, Ma’am Agnès Monique’s reign as Vice President of Mauritius came to a halt.
To learn more of this lady pace-setter and holder of the prestigious Grand Officer of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GOSK) order, click here.
Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim: Mauritius’s first elected female President.
photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Dr Ameenah Gurib was born in the year 1959 in Surinam, Mauritius. She is a certified biodiversity scientist, who holds a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Exeter, England, in the year 1987.
Before becoming the first elected female President of Mauritius in the year 2015, she worked at the University of Mauritius as an organic chemistry lecturer and in addition, Dean of the faculty of science and pro-vice-chancellor. In the year 2009, it is recorded that she opened a research centre in her country, dedicated to the study of the medical and nutritious effects of plant life- where she worked also as its managing director.
With a high profile status, her works haven’t gone unnoticed as she has been gifted various accolades, some of which include: The African Union Award for Women in Science and L’Oréal – UNESCO Award for Women in Science.
In the year 2018, Ma’am Ameenah resigned from office over a credit card scandal.
To learn more of this iconic figure in Mauritius’s history, click here.
Dr Joyce Banda: Malawi’s first elected female Vice President and consequently, President.
photo courtesy of nutritionintl.org
Born in 1950 in her country, Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda has risen to the ranks of the most respected women in the continent of Africa.
As public knowledge holds, before indulging into the political running of her country, she founded and directed various organizations, which stately are: a garment-manufacturing business; a bakery; the National Association of Business Women of Malawi; the Young Women Leaders Network; the Hunger project; and the Joyce Banda foundation whose main concern is improving the lives of women and children in rural areas.
As a debut into her political career, in the year 2004, she served her country as a member of the then ruling party- United Democratic Front (UDF) – in the National Assembly. Later on, in the same year, on changing her political party, she was elected Minister of Gender, child welfare and community services by President Bingu wa Mutharika, where she served till the year 2006; after which, she was elected as Minister of Foreign Affairs till the year 2009.
In the same year (2009), she was chosen as President Bingu wa Mutharika’s running mate, and after elections were successfully held, she emerged to be the first female holder of the Vice Presidential seat in Malawi.
As a result of the President’s death in the year 2012, she resultantly- though with surrounding obstacles main emanating from her political opponents- became the first female holder of Malawi’s Presidential seat. Her reign saw many changes, with democracy growing and the press freedom dream, being validated. Malawi’s economy also grew, purportedly in double, during her reign.
On the downside, yet worth all the credit, through her authorization a corruption scandal was revealed. This corruption scandal, well known as the Cash-gate scandal, exposed most of the members of Ma’am Joyce’s cabinet. This led her to dissolve her cabinet and attracting criticism of all sorts from her political opponents.
In the year 2014, her Presidential reign came to a halt, but she went to the extra mile of campaigning once more for the seat, under her formed party- People’s Party. But after some irregularities experienced in the elections causing for a repeal, she stepped down citing that she wouldn’t feature in the repeated elections.
Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka: South Africa’s first female Deputy President.
Photo courtesy of zimbio.com
Dr Phumzile Mlambo was born in the year 1955 in her country, South Africa. She is globally recognized as the administrative face of the United Nations Women, due to her role as Executive Director of the mentioned UN subsidiary body.
With a BA in Social Sciences and Education, she set out as a lecturer at Mpumalanga Teacher’s Training College and a teacher, thereafter, at Ohlange High School in the early ‘80s.
Lauded historically for her efforts, alongside many others, in ending apartheid in her country, she assumed various positions at the party and governmental levels, both during pre and post-independent times.
In the year 1994, Ma’am Phumzile served her country as a Member of Parliament with a chair- hood at the Public Service Portfolio Committee. Two years later, she was appointed Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry. Later, in the year 1999, she was appointed Minister of Minerals and Energy, where she served till the year 2005. Momentarily, she also served as Acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in the year 2004.
Mid of the year 2005, she was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki as Deputy President following the latter’s dismissal of Jacob Zuma- Phumzile’s predecessor. As Deputy Premier, she was credited for incepting various initiatives aimed at solving the issue on lack of skills in post-apartheid and independent South Africa.
Following the voting out of President Thabo Mbeki as Africa National Congress’s (ANC) leader, in the year 2007, Ma’am Phumzile’s deputy premiership came to a halt. She didn’t stop causing impact however, as closely a year after, she instated a foundation known as Umlambo, to assist schools in impoverished areas through mentorship and coaching their teachers.
To learn more of this iconic global figure and the efforts she has undertaken to make this world a safer place not only for South Africans but also for the world at large, girls and women to be specific, click here.
Will your country be the next?
Kindly schedule to read the subsequent article of this series, next week.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed that all schools reopen in January 2021 as the country continues battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Head of State instructed that the Interior Ministry, through all Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to ensure that all students report to school at the beginning of next year. “We remain on course for the resumption of learning in all classes effective the 4th of January 2021, with the safety of our learners being our top priority,” said President Kenyatta during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium. “In that regard, and in line with the policy of the Government on universal and compulsory basic education for all children up to 18 years, all parents and guardians are required to facilitate their children to resume learning in January 2021,” added President Kenyatta.
President Uhuru Kenyatta inspects a guard of honour mounted by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) upon arrival at the Nyayo Stadium for Jamhuri Day celebrations. Photo courtesy of PSCU
The Ministry of Education in consultation with the Health Ministry has developed sector-specific protocols and guidelines to facilitate the reopening of all learning institution.
The President added that the Ministry of Education shall receive reports from all primary and secondary schools on the identity and details of any student who shall not report to school. He also directed that the Education Ministry facilitate the resumption of learning for all learners who had dropped out of school due to pregnancy. “That the Ministry of Education shall re-issue and publicize the Education Policy on School Re-Entry, so as to facilitate the re-admission of all those who may not be able to report back due to pregnancies,” said the President. Even with the pandemic, the Head of State assured that no learner will be left behind.
All schools in Kenya will reopen next month after nine months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. The government had already begun phased reopening of Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 students returning to school on October 12, 2020.
Last week, the National Council Churches of Kenya (NCCK) called on the government to review the planned re-opening of all schools citing the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the country. NCCK General Secretary Canon Chris Kinyanjui cautioned the situation risks the lives of teachers, students and parents. “We propose that the decision that all learners will resume in-school learning on January 5, 2021, be reviewed and proper measures be put in place to avoid a surge in new infections,” Kinyanjui said last week.
The beginning of the end of the pandemic has begun as the first person in the world has been vaccinated outside a clinical trial.
Margaret Keenan, 90, received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at University Hospital in Coventry, as the NHS launched its biggest ever vaccine campaign on Tuesday. Mrs Keenan, who will turn 91 next week, said being the first was a “privilege” and the “best early birthday present one can wish for”. According to her, having the vaccine meant she could spend time with family and friends in the New Year after being alone for most of 2020.
“My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it – if I can have it at 90, then you can have it too!” She added.
Mrs Keenan will receive a booster shot in 21 days to ensure she has the best chance of being protected against the virus.
Mrs Keenan receives COVID-19 vaccine at the hospital. Photo courtesy of Sky News.
The UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine last week. The government has secured 40 million doses of the vaccine which studies have shown is 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in all age groups.
During the weekend, the vaccine began arriving in batches at a hospital in South London, ahead of the country-wide rollout. At least 800,000 doses enough for 400,000 people were received in the first batch. Vaccinations will be given at dozens of hospital hubs from today called “V-Day” by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. People aged 80 and over together with home care workers will be among the first to receive the vaccines.
Mrs Keenan getting applauded back to her ward by nurses. Photo courtesy of Mirror UK
Mr Hancock told Sky News he felt “quite emotional” watching Mrs Keenan have the vaccination. “It has been such a tough year for so many people and finally we have our way through it – our light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “And just watching Margaret there- it seems so simple having a jab in your arm, but that will protect Margaret and it will protect the people around her,” he added.
Mrs Parson, the nurse who gave Mrs Keenan the vaccine, said it was a “huge honour” to be the first in the country to deliver the vaccine to a patient. “The last few months have been tough for all of us working in the NHS, but now it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel,” added Mrs Parson.
Margaret Keenan walks with nurse Mary Parsons. Photo courtesy of Mirror UK.
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said she “got a lump in her throat” watching the video of the first COVID-19 vaccination being administered. “Feels like a milestone moment after a tough year for everyone. The first vaccines in Scotland will be administered today too.” She tweeted.
NHS England medical director Stephen Powis said on Sunday that beginning COVID vaccinations “feels like the beginning of the end”, but warned the campaign will be a “marathon, not a sprint”.
By: Brenda Mongare (brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke
Thumbnail photo courtesy of: Varcity.co.ke
Kenya has more women than men according to the 2019 census results.
Of the total population of 47,564,296, 24,014,716 are female which translates to 50.5% of the population while 23,548,056 are male and 1,524 are Intersex.
The 2019 census results released by Kenya National Bureau of Statics Director General Zachary Mwangi at State House also indicate that the Country’s population has increased from 37.7 Million in 2009 to 47.6 Million in 2019.
Mwangi said the intercensal growth rate has declined to 2.2% in 2019, from 2.9% in 2009 while the average household size has declined to 3.9 in 2019 from 4.2 in 2009.
Nairobi County has the highest number of people at 4.4 million of which 2,192,452 are male while 2,204,376 are female.
Kiambu County ranks second with 2,417,735 people followed by Nakuru with 2,162,202.
Lamu County has the lowest population with 143,920, followed by Isiolo with 268,002 and Samburu with 310,327.
Mwangi said the enumeration was successfully conducted from 24th/25th to 31st August 2019 and a mop-up exercise carried out on 1st and 2nd of September 2019, to cover those not enumerated during the seven days. KNBS will undertake further analysis to produce 4 basic reports focussing on population by: Administrative units up to sub-location, Age and Sex by county, Political Units, Socio-economic characteristics; and thematic analytical reports.
“I am also grateful to the security personnel who ensured peace prevailed during the census exercise. You lived to your true calling by providing the necessary security, not only to the census officials, but also to all members of the public.” Uhuru Kenyatta.
The President said Kenya was the first Country in Africa to release census results two months after the exercise was conducted.
“I am happy to note that this is the first Census to be conducted under the 2010 Constitution and was by and large fully funded by my Government. This year’s Census was a first of its kind in Kenya, in that for the first time ever, we fully embraced the use of technology in the census processes.”
By: Brenda Mongare (brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke)
Thumbnail photo courtesy of: weforum.org
The Trump administration made a statement to the international community that it plans to officially withdraw from the Paris climate accord. The Paris climate accord unites 188 nations to combat climate change.
President Trump called the agreement “a total disaster” and argued that the Obama administration’s pledges would have “hurt the competitiveness” of the United States.
The withdrawal is still subject to the outcome of next year’s US presidential election – if Mr Trump loses, the winner may decide to change this decision.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration had sent official notification of its plans to the United Nations.
“In international climate discussions, we will continue to offer a realistic and pragmatic model — backed by a record of real world results — showing innovation and open markets lead to greater prosperity, fewer emissions, and more secure sources of energy,” Pompeo said. “We will continue to work with our global partners to enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change and prepare for and respond to natural disasters.”
But how much can they do to fight climate change in the absence of federal leadership?
The US would become the only country to leave the pact, a decision Trump promised to boost US oil, gas and coal industries.
The Paris Agreement was set to provide a foundation for sustainable, low-carbon and resilient development under a changing climate by strengthening community-level resilience in countries suffering the same fate as Kenya.
Some of the plans that were set forward for countries to follow were:
Planting trees that absorb CO2 from the air is one such strategy.
Reduction of the amount of greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere can also be achieved through the use of energy sources that don’t release greenhouse gases such as fuel efficiency in vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, solar power, tidal energy, geothermal and wind power, use of carbon sinks, carbon credits, and taxation measures.
The Trump administration might end up losing a lot of traction with respect to US influence globally and it could take time for the international community to trust the US as a consistent partner in any developments or ties.
The US and China have been leading negotiations of the Paris “rule book” that outlines transparency and reporting rules for signatories, let’s wait and see what happens next.
By Laura Natasha (lauranatasha161526@daystar.ac.ke)
To imagine a generational diversity that Africa has embarked on, this is one of the greatest mile stones in establishing a proper middle ground for nurturing the interaction environment based on the Old- New generation. Imagining a world where building bridges has been made possible in recent generational Clash. Despite the continuous use of media every generational group has not gone unnoticed.
As a 22-year-old, John Ndung’u who is a motor sales advisor has a brilliant social life with his uncle Christopher Karanja a 63-year-old famer who is not rigid enough not to stand anyone younger than him. However, the fine-tuned relationship he’s been having with his nephew was not born out of respect but out of the generational understanding.
The age difference between the two has raised questions around their neighbourhood. The free spirited family are fully engaged in each other’s lives. After the death of John’s parents, Christopher who is still a bachelor and the state of environment he grew up in changed when he adopted John as his son.
“At first, I did not understand his needs, and with the emergence of technology I could tell that my world view was about to change,”
“When John turned sixteen years Old, arguments increased, I became less and less interested with the role of being a father,” Christopher timidly speaks.
The intergenerational clash lessened when he understood his character was different from his nephew’s from how both of them thought about certain things in life.
Generational differences regarding attitudes, work behaviour and life choices are signs of diverse economic trends. The context for the younger generations is very different than that of their parents or grandparents.
The future of the generations.
The culture that has been implied to different generations has led to the clash between the generations, some which is founded on stereotypic ideologies. The differences that do exist between any generations should be treated as problem that has led to segregation.
“When generational attitudes run apart, different life experiences are inculcated based on their principles and moral understanding of life, we need to build bridges from this ideologies,” Jane Mucau a psychologist-cum-parent said.
Recognizing the value all generations is very critical. Each generation can learn from each other on interests such as institutional knowledge and experience, thus creating leverage of the diverse never ending skillset and experience that will drive innovation.
The pace of innovation and disruption will only intensify in the years to come. The changes will be based on how each generation works, but the values underlying quality work will not.
Building a strong relationship between the generations, one based on respect and dialogue, will allow people to steer through the winds of change while remaining rooted in understanding each other’s value and philosophy in life.
“Unity is Key in establishing a middle ground in the intergenerational crisis. A path of self-discovery, understanding and tolerance will make a difference between every generation,” Christopher Karanja said.
By: Brenda Mongare (brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke)
Thumbnail photo courtesy of: the-star.co.ke
A delay in the introduction to ministries and government corporations saw interns posted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) rejected. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia admitted the glitch affected several interns but this was being addressed.
“The majority of interns are
reporting to ministries and a few in State corporations. There are no State
corporations that rejected interns. However, some interns reported to
corporations with their posting letters while the corporations had not received
PSC guidelines on how to deploy the interns,” she said.
Some of the departments wanted to be
allowed to directly contract the interns, while some heads complained that the
graduates sent to their dockets did not possess the primary degrees to learn on
the job and a suspicion that some of them have been detailed to spy on them and
subsequently report them to their bosses or investigative agencies.
“All MDAs have received guidance
letters and interns continue to report with a deadline of November 1. Any recruited
intern who has any reporting challenges to contact PSC for assistance,” Prof
Kobia said.
Some turned them away saying they
did not have physical space to accommodate them.
An unemployment crisis continues to
bite, with many graduates opting for menial jobs to earn a living. Prof Kobia
revealed that 40 percent of Kenya’s productive population, mostly the youth, do
not have meaningful jobs. “We are looking forward to recruiting 4,000 health
workers following a request from the ministry.
“Those with certificates, diplomas
and degrees will benefit as the ministry moves to address the shortage of
manpower,” PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo said.
Some of those that have turned
interns away are Kenya Ports Authority, Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi
Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Medical
Research Institute, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and the
Kenya Revenue Authority.
The government recruited 3,600
graduates in a plan the PSC believes will address the problem of an aging
workforce when they are finally absorbed after one year.
Some 3,200 public servants exit the
service every year through natural attrition while 18,600 graduates applied for
the slots.
Mr. Kirogo disclosed that they had
received 13,000 applications for the second intake that targets 4,000 recruits.
“There is an overwhelming response
and I’m happy people are keen to take part in the program,” he said on
Saturday.
Recruited from all the 290
constituencies, the PSC chairman holds that the program will in the long run
cure the dominance of a few ethnic groups.
A PSC report in July on its ethnic
composition tabled in Parliament indicated that five tribes – Kikuyu, Luhya,
Kisii, Maasai and Embu — control 53.3 per cent of the 223 jobs.
By: Brenda Mongare (brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke)
Thumbnail photo courtesy of: www.amazon.com
Menstrual pad maker Always has
announced that it will remove the female symbol from its products to reflect
the fact that some people who menstruate don’t identify as women, including
transgender men and nonbinary people.
The company was forced into deciding
at the behest of lobbyists, Always’ parent company, Procter and Gamble,
released a statement saying it opted to make the change after continued
feedback from customers, including trans men and allies.
“For over 35 years Always has
championed girls and women, and we will continue to do so, we’re also committed
to diversity and inclusion and are on a continual journey to understand the
needs of all of our consumers.”
“It’s just a way to have
accurate, affirming medical care, to exist in your body and be comfortable and
recognized for who you are, periods are a biological, reproductive function
that has nothing to do with how you think of yourself, which is what gender is.
People have to get away from this idea that gender is connected to
genitals.” Erika Hart added
But it’s possible to have a uterus
without identifying as a woman, as is the case with transgender men, as well as
nonbinary and intersex people since gender identity and sex are two different
things.
Gender identity refers to a person’s
internal concept of self and can include terms like man, woman, transgender,
and nonbinary.
For example, a transgender man is
someone who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male. A nonbinary
person is someone who identifies as neither male nor female, regardless of how
they were assigned at birth.
Some transgender people may choose
to have hormone treatments or surgery to make their physical characteristics
better align with their identity, but many do not.
The discomfort of menstruation can
be magnified for trans men who choose to take testosterone since the hormone
can cause vaginal inflammation and can make using tampons or menstrual cups
painful.
The monthly experience can also be
emotionally painful for trans and nonbinary people due to gender dysphoria, or
the psychological distress caused by a disconnect between a person’s identity
and their assigned sex.
While gender dysphoria can be brought on by social
situations, such as when someone is misgendered (referred to in a way other
than how they identify), it can also happen to trans men and nonbinary people
when buying and using menstrual products. That’s because periods are typically
referred to as only a “women’s issue” and most conversations about
menstruation focus on women and girls.
