The idea of caring for our environment has for long been identified as a foreign phenomenon and deemed impossible to carry out locally. I approached the children's home (Emthunzini Wethemba) with the intention of just giving the students a general environmental management education. Then the administrator, Miss Anita, made a reference to a problem that she says the girls have been facing in the center for a long time now: the disposal of sanitary pads.

Due to the nature of such thoughts which usually trouble me until I act on them, I was forced to find out what these girls do when there are no sanitary napkins, and also what do they do with sanitary napkins after they use them - that's if they have them.

The use cloth (cotton)to absorb menstrual flow is not always the best solution. The reason isn't  always that cloth is cheaper, but rather, that cloth is familiar. In our country, where tradition and ancient methods exist, cloth is the most familiar, comfortable option. And why not? It absorbs blood quite well, can be procured easily without the embarrassment of asking a shop-keeper, can be washed and re-used and thereby eliminating the problem of disposal and environmental damage.

However they often cause blisters due to its thickness. At the center girls wash them after use in order to reuse them at another time. The hygiene of such products is also in question and can sometimes cause UTI's.

On the other hand, sanitary pads are seen as expensive and most of the women are unfamiliar with their use and thus reluctant to try it. The women are also not very open to discuss the issue making it difficult to pass the proper information. This trend continues from generation to generation as even if young girls are encouraged to use it or are able to afford the cheaper options that are available, they are hindered by the lack of information about how to properly use it and dispose of it carefully.

SOLUTION

With the development of biodegradable materials made from plant cellulose, it is possible for these plastics to be replaced, but sanitary protection is still being made from more and more plastic materials. There is, therefore, the need to raise awareness about the proper disposal of these products. Most people are not even aware of the high loading of plastics in the products they use.

So instead of jumping into conclusions on the real issue on the ground a meeting with the girls was  arranged in order to uncover some of the root causes. However there was one tinny-little-huge problem, I (like any most other men) find it hard to sit some young ladies down and discuss issues of menstruation, pads, ovulation and all that. SO I needed help, I needed a female figure.

I invited my fellow friend and environmental fanatic, Sibusisiwe Falala. She is the reigning Miss Climate Zimbabwe and she gladly supported the cause when I explained it to her. She was even going to be  a good mentor to the young children who have been isolated from their community.

At the end of it all the team of girls agreed that they would send their pads to a nearby hospital where they would be incriminated. More solutions would come up on the next meeting the Miss Climate would have with the children.