Imagine crossing a border and having your tampon become the center of attention.
That’s exactly what happened to influencer Tara Katims while she was traveling from The Gambia into Senegal.
She was stopped by border security, who seemed perplexed by the item they found in her bag.
The Unexpected Demonstration
As the border agents pulled out the tampon from her purse, confusion quickly set in.
They weren’t sure what it was and asked Katims to clarify.
With a quick thinking move, Katims decided to demonstrate how the tampon works to bridge the language gap.
She told Newsweek, “They didn’t offer any guesses about what it was, but after they pulled out 10 tampons and told me to ‘open it,’ I figured I should explain it myself.”
A Hilarious and Memorable Moment
Katims found the whole situation amusing and later shared the story on TikTok.
In her video, she demonstrates the tampon and gestures to her body, which brought smiles and laughter from the border agent.
After the thorough check, she and her group were allowed to continue their journey.
Online Reactions and Reflections
The incident sparked a range of reactions online.
Many found it funny and shared their own similar experiences.
“Hahah no you having to show him,” one person commented.
Another said, “Aw this is genuinely wholesome hahaha. He seems like a good sport.”
Addressing Period Poverty
However, the story also opened up a conversation about period poverty.
One user mentioned, “I did a medical trip to Guatemala and nobody knew what a tampon was.
Most didn’t know pads either.”
Another added, “Same thing happened to me in Dubai.”
Period poverty, as defined by the UN, refers to the lack of access to affordable menstrual products and proper sanitation facilities.
In Senegal and many parts of West Africa, menstruation is still considered a taboo topic.
According to the non-profit Speak Up Africa, women in Senegal can lose up to 45% of their income during menstruation, and many girls miss school due to the lack of menstrual resources.
A Global Issue
Period poverty is a widespread issue affecting various countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe.
Even in the US, data from the UN shows that one in four teens and one in three adults struggle to afford menstrual products.
The conversation around period poverty continues to grow, highlighting the need for greater awareness and access to menstrual health resources.
TDPel Media
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