SuSanA - Forum Kunena Site Syndication http://forum.susana.org/ Tue, 21 May 2013 20:31:17 +0000 Kunena 1.6 http://forum.susana.org/components/com_kunena/template/default/images/icons/rss.png SuSanA - Forum http://forum.susana.org/ en-gb Re: Menstrual hygiene matters - by: AnanyaGh http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4101 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4101
Thanks for your prompt answer.

-Ananya]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:00:51 +0000 Re: Menstrual hygiene matters - by: PennyPH http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4100 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4100 If you still cannot access let us know and we can see how else to link you up.
best wishes, Penny]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:49:55 +0000 Re: Menstrual hygiene matters - by: susanaforum http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4099 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4099
I just checked the link, and it is working.

Kind regards,

Tilmann
on behalf of SuSanA secretariat]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:47:24 +0000 Re: Menstrual hygiene matters - by: AnanyaGh http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4098 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#4098
The link says "not found"..!! Can you please check and re-post?

Thanks,

Ananya
Wash United, India]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:43:51 +0000 Re: Sanitary Pad burner/incinierator design - by: AquaVerde http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/821-sanitary-pad-burnerincinierator-design#3471 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/821-sanitary-pad-burnerincinierator-design#3471
I had recently help on a similar incinerator question,

from Toby Gould, Technical Support Services Manager, of RedR, London, www.redr.org.uk (people and skills for disaster relief), Technical Support Service: (Free for all humanitarian workers, for details see our website or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ),

maybe it is helpful to you too:

...
I have no experience of the design of the medical facilities, but there has been a lot of development work on incinerators for small medical facilities that can be accessed here: www.mw-incinerator.info/en/101_welcome.html

The de Montfort incinerator is considered very good for small to medium sized health facilities and Jim Pickens, who designed it at de Montfort University would be willing to answer questions if necessary.

Regards,
Detlef SCHWAGER]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:40:20 +0000 Re: Sanitary Pad burner/incinierator design - by: Ewoods http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/821-sanitary-pad-burnerincinierator-design#3467 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/821-sanitary-pad-burnerincinierator-design#3467
my question out there is how do we KNOW that the waste is burning properly?]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 13 Feb 2013 07:22:03 +0000 The Ruby cup and MHM experiences from Kenya - by: Maxie http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/710-the-ruby-cup-and-mhm-experiences-from-kenya?limit=12&start=24#3233 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/710-the-ruby-cup-and-mhm-experiences-from-kenya?limit=12&start=24#3233
A quick Ruby Cup update from Kenya. We are currently available in 60 pharmacies in Nairobi but not yet available outside the city. We are working on making Ruby Cup available in Kisumu.

Here is a list with pharmacies where you can get Ruby Cup: ruby-cup.com/default.asp?page=buy_now.as...p;diffdel=&idc=3

The price for one Ruby Cup is 1800 KES in Kenya but we are currently running a promotion and you can get Ruby Cup for 1250 KES for a limited period.

Also, we have a discounted price for Ruby Cup if organisations or individuals wish to provide the product to underpriviledged school girls. We offer the provision of Ruby Cups, the education involved about menstrual hygiene and reproductive health and of course how to use Ruby Cup.

In Europe, for every Ruby Cup we sell, we sponsor one and provide it to a school girl from underpriviledged backgrounds in Kenya.

Last year, we conducted a study with the Red Cross in Uganda and I am sharing the postive results with you in the attached document. Happy reading and speak soon!

Sunny greetings from Nairobi!

Maxie]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:21:30 +0000 Menstrual hygiene matters - by: Doreen http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#2750 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2750-menstrual-hygiene-matters#2750
There is a new toolkit out on Menstrual Hygiene Management. It covers key aspects of menstrual hygiene in different settings such as communities and emergencies. You can download all the modules here: www.wateraid.org/uk/what_we_do/how_we_wo..._inclusion/10745.asp

Here is some more information.

++++++
Menstrual hygiene matters is an essential resource for improving menstrual hygiene for women and girls in lower and middle-income countries.
Nine modules and toolkits cover key aspects of menstrual hygiene in different settings, including communities, schools and emergencies.

This comprehensive resource:
o Brings together examples of good menstrual hygiene practice from around the world
o Provides guidance on building competence and confidence to break the silence surrounding the issue
o Encourages increased engagement in advocacy on menstrual hygiene

In her foreword, Catarina De Albuquerque, UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, states:

This resource brings together, for the first time, accurate, straightforward, non-judgmental knowledge and practice on menstrual hygiene programming from around the world to encourage the development of comprehensive and context specific approaches to menstrual hygiene.


++++++

It is very helpful when organizations make such toolkits accessible to everyone!

Best regards,

Doreen]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:41:01 +0000 Re: AFRIpads - by: GandoLight http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/1039-reusable-sanitary-pads#2746 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/1039-reusable-sanitary-pads#2746
thank you very, very much for this answer. This is an even better solution for the girls in Gando. As we are planning to introduce (or extend, I'm not sure yet, if something like this exists at all) education on hygiene and sanitation parallel to our building ecosan-toilets in the school, it would be great if we could copy your program (may we?) and have the girls make their own reusable pads. Could you get me in touch with the local trainer?

Kindest regards, Peter]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:08:49 +0000 Re: AFRIpads - by: PennyPH http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/1039-reusable-sanitary-pads#2728 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/1039-reusable-sanitary-pads#2728
Our research group is currently investigating the acceptability use feasibility and safety of menstrual cups, against manufactured pads and 'usual practice' among schoolgirls in rural western Kenya. It is culturally relatively homogeneous in this Luo area, with very few Muslims, so we will be unable to generate any experience on acceptability and use for the population you work with.

However, we would bring to your attention activities conducted on the coast of Kenya, by colleagues at Camps International; they are working with school girls (and boys) teaching them how to make reusable pads (among a number of skills for life):

www.campsinternational.com/projectblog/2...f-muhaka-youth-club/

It is predominantly a Muslim population, and has been very well received locally. The person leading the programme is male, but they hired a female teacher to run it on a day to day basis, to work directly with the girls and boys. The trainer they brought in with expertise on making the reusables was also female.

Regards, Penny
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; in collaboration with KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration and other partners, western Kenya.]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Sun, 25 Nov 2012 09:58:38 +0000 AFRIpads - by: GandoLight http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/1039-reusable-sanitary-pads#2707 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/1039-reusable-sanitary-pads#2707 Note by moderator: I have moved this posting into the existing thread on reusable pads because it fits nicely here. (EvM)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Forum,
I'm completely new in the field of sanitation and need your advice.
Something I hadn't realized before I dealt with this topic is the fact that it is again women and girls who suffer most from the unpleasant circumstances. I've already written in another thread about our project in Gando, where we would like to install ecosan-toilets in the CFG which is presently being built. And then, ("of course") with separate latrine blocks for boys and girls.
But I also came across another way how one could help the girls cope with their menstrual situation. Brwosing through the internet i came across www.afripads.com, a self-help organization run by Ugandan women who manufactures low-cost, reusable (washable) cloth sanitary pads.
In this forum I also came across the idea of a menstrual cup and read about the reservations in many mainly Islamic communities against the use of these. I can imagine this is also the case in our partner village, Gando in Burkina Faso (see www.fuergando.de and www.lichtfuergando.de).
I would very much like to introduce the Afripads in the village, but I'm not sure whether - as a white male - I can do so without crossing cultural, religious or social borders. I've been to Gando three times before, and I think I've got quite informal, good contact with a woman teacher and one of the women in the village who prepared my meals. Do you think it is possible to confide in them, talk with them openly about the problem and have them introduce the pads if possible?
Has anyone experience about how and if these pads are accepted in African (Burkinabe) communities? Of course it could only be the second-best solution to using disposable pads, but the women and girls in the village can't afford these.
Thank you very much for your patience and hope to hear form you soon,
Peter]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Fri, 23 Nov 2012 06:26:13 +0000 Where to purchase Sanitary towel/ tampon vending machines in East Africa - by: Doreen http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2631-where-to-purchase-sanitary-towel-tampon-vending-machines-in-east-africa#2631 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2631-where-to-purchase-sanitary-towel-tampon-vending-machines-in-east-africa#2631
I hope you are all well.

Does anyone know where one can buy sanitary towel/tampon vending machine in East Africa (particularly Kenya) on a large scale? I have been approached by some people in the private sector regarding this who would like to install them in offices, organisations etc.

Thanks and best regards,

Doreen]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:29:47 +0000 Re: (fake) Bodyform sanitary napkins video on Facebook - by: muench http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2486-fake-bodyform-sanitary-napkins-video-on-facebook#2630 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/2486-fake-bodyform-sanitary-napkins-video-on-facebook#2630
Juergen and Robert: Where did you find these two videos? I am curious. What reactions did Ruby Cup get on this video?

Regards,
Elisabeth]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:26:24 +0000 Re: Free sanitary towels for girls in Kenya - by: Doreen http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/351-free-sanitary-towels-for-girls-in-kenya?limit=12&start=24#2548 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/351-free-sanitary-towels-for-girls-in-kenya?limit=12&start=24#2548
Thank you very much for your response and for giving us first hand information from the young girls. I am also very happy to read and hear of the positive response from the Kenyan Government about the Ruby Cup.

Looking forward to further progress and all the best in Durban.

Best regards,

Doreen]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:59:16 +0000 Re: Free sanitary towels for girls in Kenya - by: Maxie http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/351-free-sanitary-towels-for-girls-in-kenya?limit=12&start=24#2541 http://forum.susana.org/forum/categories/24-menstrual-hygiene-management-mhm/351-free-sanitary-towels-for-girls-in-kenya?limit=12&start=24#2541
As always, vey interesting and topical discussions. We should continue the dialogue at the World Toilet Summit in Durban 3-6th December. Is anyone from this forum going to be there? world-toilet-summit-2012.co.za/

@Doreen: We saw the government tender about the provision of sanitary towels in the Nation and we have visited some schools that benefitted from the programme the previous year. Some rumors about the money never reaching the intended cause can therefore be falsified, however, I completely agree with your argument that the initiative means a drop in the ocean and lacks considerations about sustainability. We sent a proposal to the minister of education introducing Ruby Cup to the government of Kenya and the response was quite positive. In order for the government to consider purchasing Ruby Cups, however, we were informed that the law needs to be amended in the first place. This can take a while but I am very positive about the fact that the Kenyan government looked at menstrual cups in an open manner and we are working on getting Ruby Cup out there through either the government of Kenya, NGOs and other partners.

@Elizabeth: I agree with your poin that menstrual cups are not suited for each and everyone due to cultural and religious believes about insertion. But for at least 20% of girls (in our studies close to 90%), Ruby Cup has shown to be a sustainable solution that will help girls go through primary, secondary school and college without needing to worry affording menstrual hygiene products any longer. And for me personally, the biggest impact was receiveing letters from some of our users from Kibera, St Johns primary school, who indicated that Ruby Cup meant freedom, the ability to move freely as well as cutting the need to ask their "boyfriends" for pads anymore. The latter meaning that they do not trade their body for pads any longer. In this respect, I agre and it does not matter whether menstrual cups are a solution for 5%,10%, 20% of the girls or more. As long as they help one single girl stop trading her body for pads, we have made a huge impact.





The above point makes another thing very clear: discussing the correlation between menstruation and school drop-out is looking at MHM in a far too narrow way. If girls trade their body for pads, it implies many more problems, such as early childhood pregnancies, illegal abortions, increased likelyhood to get HIV/Aids and other STDs, disempowerment of girls and first step into prostition to name but a few. I would love the MHM discussion to embrace all these aspects as well beyond the sole angle of school drop out. Any thoughts on that?

I am so excited to see some of you in Durban and to elaborate on the discussions, to share experiences and to learn from you.

All the best from Kenya!
Maxie

PS: If you can not decipher the content of the letters, we have noted them down:

Annet Shilaho:
ANNET SHILAHO (15 years)
My first day when I started my menstruation period I used rugs because my father did not afford to buy me a pad. I did not have anyone to afford to buy for me cause my mother had been already dead. I felt ashamed of myself. I stayed for a week at home because I thought it was not normal. I was very funny because I went everywhere telling people that the bleeding is come out of my vagina. A few days later friend introduce me to their life skills teacher. I explained everything to her and at last she promised to provide for me pads.
My opinion about Rub cup is that it helps me a lot because before I was using two pads per day. I thank Moraa and Ruby Cup because they made my dreams come true. Cause once before she came I was ashamed facing my father asking him to buy me pads. Ruby cup is my number one choice cause it has help me a lot. Since I started used it I have seen changes. It has even help me saving my dad’s money. I don’t have much to say all I ask you all is to bring more ruby cup to help others a lot. The thing id good a lot if even you wear it nobody will notice.
I prefer Ruby cup than anything else.

Valentine Atiendo:
VALENTINE ATIENO (13 years)
Before I start using ruby cup I was using rages. Sometimes I was using pads I usually stay home until my menstruation stop because I become shy.
But by now I am using Ruby cup I can do anything I can jump but before I was asking money for my boyfriends sometimes I was asking my mother sometimes when my mother doesn’t have money I usually use rages and stay home I was ashmed to go to school because I became shy I am very glad to have ruby cup because by now anyone doesn’t if I am on my menstruation even my mother I like ruby cup with all my heart because it is helping me so much.
I am not even go to school because I thought that my friends will now that I am on my menstruation I become shy.
But by now I am very glad to have it because am stay with my aunt and she cant take proper care of me and I cant tell because I become shy I don’t have my real father who can give to me money to buy pads. I thank God because he saw me with my problems and bring for use ruby cup.
I have thank God to bring you here to help us.
I empty ruby cup in the pee poo bag and before I start using it I must wash my hands and then when I remove it I wash my hands again.]]> Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) Sat, 27 Oct 2012 11:54:49 +0000