NAWP Spotlights allow members to share their personal experiences of the issues that matter and how these issues impact them at work. By highlighting the day-to-day experiences of women, the network hopes to normalise these topics and support women by showing them they are not alone.
The NAWP Spotlight ‘Period Matters’ has provided a platform for women in pharmacy to share their experiences of period symptoms, such as physical discomfort and emotional fluctuations, and their impacts. Although so many employees menstruate while at work, there is still a lack of empathy and support that needs addressing.
President of the PDA NAWP Network, Ayah Abbass said, “Growing up, I was always told not to talk about my period because it’s embarrassing and might make the people around me feel uncomfortable. I used to ensure that I hid my period pad and felt so ashamed for having a period. As I got older, my period pain started to get stronger.
It’s very important to share your experiences to help raise awareness of this issue and to help you understand your period properly.”
According to a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, almost four in five women have experienced menstruation symptoms and more than two-thirds of those with symptoms have experienced a negative impact at work. However, only 12% of organisations provide support for menstruation and menstrual health.
To improve these results, it is important to raise awareness of the effects that periods can have on workers and encourage employers to create a more period-friendly workplace.
The PDA encourages pharmacists to download this NAWP Spotlight and share it with their colleagues and employers.
READ Period Matters HERE
NAWP Spotlights first launched in October 2023, when NAWP released ‘Menopause Matters’ to celebrate World Menopause Day.
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Get involved
- NAWP is a safe space for members to share their experiences. If you would like to get involved with future NAWP Spotlights, please email nawp@the-pda.org.
- Use #PDAnawp on all social media platforms to post on issues relevant to women pharmacists and to suggest recommended reading for allies of the network.
- Join the WhatsApp group here.
- Contact the committee by emailing nawp@the-pda.org
- About NAWP
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.