Menstrual hygiene is one of the challenges faced by the volunteers and residents alike at almost all the relief camps which were opened across Kerala following the deadly floods in the state. The volunteers and the officials at the camps were able to collect essential materials including sanitary napkins and diapers within short time. However, the efficient disposal of menstrual waste has posed a major problem at many relief camps.
The volunteers and health workers stationed at the different relief camps across Kerala spoke about the various official instructions they have received about proper waste disposal methods.
The problems at two relief camps functioning around Vazhappally, near Changanacherry, are cases in point: one is at the government school and the other at Amrithavidyalaya. The women inmates at the government school in Vazhappally had no difficulty in disposing the used sanitary napkins or soiled diapers as e-toilets have been installed at the school. It was in March this year that the e-toilets were installed here. Vazhappally municipal councillor Rakha said, ''We have given instructions to the residents about appropriate waste disposal measures. Most of them strictly follow the instruction that the used napkins and diapers should be properly covered before dumping in the bins. Only a few have unknowingly made the mistake of throwing it along with food waste. These wastes that have been collected from the camps are not yet disposed as we haven't received any instruction from the authorities regarding the ways in which it is to be done.''
A volunteer from Kottayam said that some women don't remove the thin layer of plastic on top of the pad before disposing it in the toilets or waste bins. These napkins could clog the pipes, and it would be a difficult task to unclog it. Burning the pads with the plastic layer on would be harmful for the environment as well.
''It is not practical to remove the plastic from the menstrual waste which is collected in bulk. So as a first step it should be properly buried in a hug pit. After a while the plastic which is non degradable could be taken out of the pit and disposed in the right way,'' suggested Dr Indira. She added that the stained cotton from the pads, without the plastic layer, could be disposed in the toilets, or utilising the destroyer facilities in the nearby government hospitals. The volunteers and the inmates are advised to follow the instructions given by the municipalities about the various waste disposal methods.
Those who are volunteering at the various relief camps around Ernakulam point out that since most of the schools and colleges in the district have napkin vending machines and incinerators, disposal of menstrual waste is not much of an issue.
Lijisha, a business woman from Kochi who supplies women's care products, said that her firm has distributed sanitary napkins at the relief camps, and that they had even received orders for destroyers from many places. She added, ''We are providing as much help as we can in the present situation.''
Even media persons have intervened to address the issue of efficient waste management at the relief camps across Kerala. Nithin Joseph Mulangassery writes on his Facebook page, ''Disposing huge number of used sanitary pads is as difficult as making it available at the camps. The women have no other way other than flushing it down the toilets. Clogged toilets may create more difficulties for the residents and the officials. However, there is a temporary solution for this problem. Those who collect relief materials for the camps should also try to collect old news paper sheets as much as possible. Then it would be easier for the women to cover the used pads and diapers in it and dump it in the waste bin. It would also make easier the process of burying these wastes. So those who send materials to the relief camps should remember to include a few stacks of old news papers as well.''
Here a few general instructions to dispose used sanitary napkins or diapers
Do not flush the pads or diapers down the toilets
Cover it properly and put it in appropriate waste disposal bins
Personal hygiene is as important as community hygiene
Important points for the volunteers to remember
Give proper instructions to the residents about the waste disposal methods
Make sure that they follow those instructions properly
Replace the bins in which used napkins/diapers are collected before they are full
Do not allow the residents to dispose napkins/diapers along with food waste
Either bury these wastes in deep pits or burn them
