Yasmin, a fourth year student in the GKT School of Medical Education, volunteered at the Dunkirk refugee camp in 2016. While speaking with women in the camp, which is France's first and only internationally recognised refugee camp, they identified issues with poor hygiene and sanitation of chronic vaginal candidiasis.
The women, while grateful for the donations, explained that between the use of second-hand underwear and the difficulty washing in breezy, portable shower cabins, thrush was now an everyday reality.
Vaginal thrush, an itchy, painful and potentially damaging condition is caused by many things including poor hygiene, stress and nutritional deficiency. Left untreated, it can lead to chronic infection, problems in pregnancy and even miscarriage. It is also transmissible to men.
While the condition itself requires treatment, the ability to put on clean, dry underwear would relieve the pain, discomfort and minimise the risk of re-infection.
Understanding the legal constraints of providing medical care, Yasmin and a co-founder set up the Knickers for Dunkirk to raise awareness of the issue and nurture a sense of compassion and dignity.