Thematic Report: Managing Menstrual Wastes

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Thematic Report: Managing Menstrual Wastes
by Okoth Okoth \| 20-07-2020 17:21 1
Disposal of menstrual hygiene products poses as health and waste management problem in Kenya. According to the situational analysis, 65% of the Kenyan rural population dispose of their menstrual products in a pit latrine, in comparison with 50% in urban areas. Moreover, in rural public schools only 1% of girls are able to dispose of their menstrual wastes in an environment friendly manner. The menstrual waste disposal options are limited to pit latrines and trash bins because incinerators are uncommon in Kenya. Most menstruators lack the knowledge of how to dispose of sanitary pads and therefore just throw them in garbage bins. The sanitary pads get mixed with general refuse wastes and other hazardous wastes thereby finding its way into municipal waste collection points. Being that it cannot be recycled, the exposed sanitary pads and napkins pose grave health risks for the waste collectors. The chemical components of the disposable sanitary pads such as furan, dioxin, pesticides, and other endocrine disruptors further get into the environment posing aggravated health risks. There should be increased public health awareness to advocate for the idea of sustainable menstruation. There are sustainable ways to use and dispose of sanitary products without causing adverse impacts to the environment. The governments should further support innovations and solutions to provide compostable sanitary products which doesn’t contaminate the environment. People need education on waste collection and segregation to manage used menstrual products. The government should set aside waste collection points for used sanitary products and invent various ways in which they can be disposed of in a sanitized manner. At household levels, there should be set up pits to contain only menstruation management products. Menstruation affects everyone and should not be left as a ‘women thing.’

Dormant user Okoth Okoth

10 Comments

Sang Su Mentor says :
Hi Okoth Okoth, this is a mentor, Sang Su Lee.

I did not know that menstrual wastes can pose threats to the environment. This article was interesting. You used appropriate statistics data to support the problem definition. Your solutions were fine, but it would be good to include details on how the education and government support can be achieved. They are quite general, not specific.

Green cheers~
Posted 28-07-2020 01:00

Aarati Khatri says :
Hello Okoth Okoth,
I hope you are doing fine and is safe wherever you are,
This is a much-needed topic to create an awareness because our small carelessness in disposing of menstrual pad have kept many people's life in danger.
Thank you soo much for raising an awareness in this hot topic that is very much needed to be addressed by the large mass of the people.
Thank you
Keep Writting.
Posted 24-07-2020 12:29

Diana Gamazova says :
Yes, as a girl i fully understand you! Some new technologies are really uncomfortable in using and damaging our heakth in a way to save Earth, we need some alternative!

Green cheers! Diana with love.
Posted 23-07-2020 21:17

Kushal Naharki

Kushal Naharki says :
Hello Okoth

Greetings and Namaste from Nepal
Wishing you a safe stay
Thank you for your report on Managing Menstrual Wastes

Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Green Cheers :)

Best wishes,
Kushal Naharki

Posted 22-07-2020 20:54

Taehyun Mentor says :
Hello Okoth, this is mentor Taehyun!

I hope the personal hygiene products will be changed by open education and processed in the right way...! I think it's a great idea to educate about this. Especially, starting with the generation who are attending school these days, I think it would be helpful to improve awareness if we take classes on the right way to deal with related garbage. I think the topic related to these personal hygiene products is really novelty! And the last word is really impressive:) I think we should think it's all of us and try to find a solution.

Thank you for the report!

Green cheers!
Posted 21-07-2020 03:27

Bal krishna Pandey says :
Hello Okoth,
This is Bal krishna from Nepal.
Thank you very much for your report on Managing Menstrual Wastes. You have raised a sensitive topic.Also in Nepal most menstruators lack the knowledge of disposing sanitary pads.WE should openly talk about menstruation and provide knowledge of management of disposals. education s the key factor and we should encourage people to apply in practical life.
Thank you very much:)
Posted 21-07-2020 01:12

Veronica Muhanga says :
Hello Okoth Okoth,
It was a nice topic of coverage. Am familiar with the situation in our country. Most people believe its a girl 'thing'. Our boys should be educated also especially those in schools.
Posted 20-07-2020 19:59

sandesh thapa says :
Greetings Okoth Okoth,

menstrual wastes are to be managed carefully as their blending with municipal waste can be more hazardous and yeah each local bodies should act for its proper management.

Thank you for this wonderful and most needed report for raising public awareness.

Regards,
Sandesh
Posted 20-07-2020 19:51

Shruti Shrestha says :
Hello Okoth Okoth ,
its actually very important topic to raise... we can see in many places its thrown haphazardly. these sorts of waste are never ending so awareness is the most for its disposal
its importance to keep our self and our environment healthy.

i loved this report

thanks for sharing !!
Posted 20-07-2020 18:08