Dear All,
We (GIZ Uganda) are promoting biogas systems (biolatrines) as a technology option in public (primary/elementary) schools. Typical school population would be in the range 1.000 to 2.000 pupils. Whereas it is not challenging to get the school management on board to accept biolatrines, the same cannot be said of proper MHM.

The current practice is that girls are requested to use the old facility (usually a VIP latrine) for disposal of sanitary pads. Such practice is obviously discriminatory - and not practical (kids would naturally want to use the "new" biolatrine). And what happens when there is no such alternative?

Could members share MHM experiences, where say biolatrines are the only sanitation option in the school?

Best,
Fredrick

Dear Fredrick,

Interesting case. Why would the school not install bins in the cubicles so that the girls could dispose of their pads in bins rather than in the toilet? Or is that maybe not culturally acceptable? Those plastic bins where the lid flips open in a way that the content of the bin is not visible are standard practice in our toilets here. But I have also heard that in school toilets in Kenya such bins may get knocked over or not emptied regularly. So perhaps it is not practical?

Regarding your question about biogas sanitation and MHM, it could be useful to have a look at this document which we recently added to the library:
www.susana.org/lang-en/library?view=ccbk...p;type=2&id=1556

It was written by researchers from SEI and had funding from the Gates Foundation.

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Global review of sanitation systems trends and interactions with menstrual management practices
Report for the menstrual management and sanitation systems project
This review of sanitation system trends and interactions with menstrual management practices has been conducted as part of the broader project on Menstrual Management and Sanitation Systems.

It starts with a review of trends in the development of urban sanitation systems and then explores the interaction between menstrual management and sanitation systems, mainly relating to the issue of disposal of
used menstrual blood absorption materials. Finally, it proposes a framework of interactions by positioning a range of issues of particular relevance for menstrual management into the different parts of the sanitation system.

This review forms part of the Menstrual Management and Sanitation
Systems research project financed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

++++++++++

Kind regards,
Elisabeth

Thanks Elisabeth. Bins would be the obvious solution, but for the school's management, that comes with extra O&M costs (regular emptying, safe disposal, etc). It's a pity that even when the facility has been largely subsidized, one cannot take O&M issues for granted. The task at hand is I suppose to implore the school authorities to take the plight of the little girls seriously. Even if an old pit latrine is in existence, it's not proper to dispose off the pads in the same. That's probably how you and I see it, but might not necessarily be the case with the beneficiaries.

ft

Kiku,
You can Internet search for a good solution to sanitary napkins on "Scope, India, napkin incinerator". You will find also some newspaper articles. The Scope project also produces locally burnable napkins, partly as an income generation business. The incinerator is constructed on the principle of the "Montfort Hospital Waste Incinerator" (several designs Mark 1-9 exist).
In the communal toilet, one of the toilets has the shute, leading directly to the incinerator.
Attached is a page with some explanation

Kiku,
In addition to the former posting I like to mention that the biogas production will work better if urine is separated, pour-flush system is used and pulvarized or shredded kitchen waste is added to the system. Especially starch and sugar containing kitchen waste will boost gas production and gets rid of the waste as well (including flies). When dissolvable woodfibre paper based anal cleaning paper is used, this can be also disposed into the toilets as the wood fibre consists of 50% of carbon. The additional carbon in the biogas reactor is needed to adjust (improve) the C/N level to 1:24 about. Human faeces have a lower ratio (1:15) and will result in partial gassification.
A file with a semi-detailed outline is attached.
Currently I do not think that 'Zero methane leakage' is possible so the better title should be Low Leakage Urban Biogas Reactor (LLUBR).

Dear all

In Pune India and in the Philippines there have been interesting experiments with composting sanitary napkins- probably not solving the O&M problem entirely- but at least a local disposal option that is not incineration. The Phillippines example is in a school setting.
www.wadef.com/projects/isteac/StudyRepor...lot.Work_Results.pdf

India work referenced here:
www.wastetohealth.com/medical_waste_disposal_technique.html

Hope this is of use.

Best wishes

Zelda

Dear Kiku
From Kenya- on the Community of Practice on Sanitation and Hygiene there was recently a long discussion thread on MHM on the Linked In Group and this post might be of interest to you:

Thanks for this discussion. I realise there is a lot we can share. Thanks Nerisa for opening this up. I have a question for you Eelke. First I like your ideas of doing fund raising. As a teacher, I reminded students to learn to draw the line between child labour and family labour. A child from a poor family may not have all the benefits enjoyed by a child from a wealthy family and although all are supposed to be innovative, for a child from poor background, it is a worthwhile necessity. Having activities that can raise funds for girls to support this necessity sounds plausible. The one I like most is for bio-gas digester, more so because of my interest in ecosan. I would like to visit a school where this example is working. Are you able to direct me to one? Remember there is fund by the government that is assisting with a subsidy of up to Ksh. 25,000 for digesters. Am not sure it can apply to a school situation but I have benefited from the fund for household digesters. Let me know where I can see an example plus the contact.

To follow and add to the discussion- please join the Community of Practice on Sanitation and Hygeine Linked In Group: www.wsscc.org/Cop

Best wishes

Zelda

Dear Elisabeth,

I read the "Global review of sanitation systems trends and interactions with menstrual management practices". Especially the framework will be a nice checklist for practitioners and therefore I would like to share this in our Asia email forum. However, it is a little bit long, and I know it will not be read if I send it like this. So I wondered if there is a summary/ fact sheet version, or else, if you could send me the pages of the framework (32-35)?

Thanking you in advance,
Antoinette

Dear Antoinette,

I am one of the authors of the report and am glad that there is interest in it.

There isn't a fact sheet/summary available yet, but I have created a small document for you with just the tables and related text.

Please see the attachment.

All the best,

Chibesa Pensulo (Ms)
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it