The Center for Biological Diversity is partnering with the University of Arizona this Friday to distribute free sexual and reproductive health emergency preparedness kits on the university's main campus
The kits are designed to address a common gap in disaster planning, said Kelley Dennings, a senior campaigner with the Center.
It’s also the first time the environmental advocacy group is offering these items on a university campus.
While standard emergency preparedness bags often include water and flashlights, they frequently overlook reproductive healthcare needs. Each kit contains condoms, emergency contraception, period products, pregnancy tests, dental dams, and lubricant.
“Sexual health might not be the first thing that people think of when preparing for disasters, but it really is a crucial component of the overall health and safety,” said Dennings.
Dennings noted that the Center's research into emergency checklists across all 50 states found that menstrual products and specific medications like birth control are often left out. These kits are intended to help residents navigate disruptions caused by monsoon season, wildfires, and extreme heat – climate events common in Arizona and the larger Southwest
“Flash floods and wildfires can make it impossible to access family planning and period supplies,” Dennings said. “The kits help make sure people won’t have to scramble to care for their sexual health during climate-fueled severe weather emergencies.”
The program also highlights the intersection between reproductive healthcare and climate justice. According to the Center, climate change disproportionately impacts women, gender-diverse individuals, and people of color.
According to a United Nations report, 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty (16 million more than the total number of men and boys).
NPR reported on a study that found that in areas with higher rates of poverty, temperatures can be as much as 7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer during the summer months when compared with richer neighborhoods. The same held true for Americans living in minority communities when compared with their non-Hispanic, white counterparts.
“It’s just important that we support these communities so that they can bounce back and have more climate resiliency when disasters strike,” Dennings said. “Reproductive health is health care and we should not feel constrained by discussing it in these instances.”
The event is scheduled for Friday, March 6 from 10 a.m. to noon, and will take place on the Main Mall, east of Old Main on the UA campus.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Center, the UA Women & Gender Student Space, and the College of Public Health Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health.
Organizers say they hope the distribution will encourage students and the Tucson community to consider these essential items in their personal emergency preparations.
