Mitigating Climate Change Through Reusable Menstrual Pads

As world leaders and concerned individuals brainstorm on how to mitigate the damning impact of climate change especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, a Kaduna-based Kwatam Development Initiative in partnership with Pearl Recycling Company has trained 100 young women on how to make and use biodegradable menstrual pads.

Biodegradable pads are made from cotton material which can easily broken down into pieces naturally by organisms in an ecosystem thereby preventing any form of pollution.

In an interview on the sideline of the free Kaduna waste upcycling vocational skill held at Angwan Muazu, Karuna, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Initiative, Ms.Doris Zakama said, the development became necessary to reduce the impact of plastic sanitary pads which causes water pollution and flooding.

According to her, due to the economic situation of the Country, many women are using plastic pads for a whole day through their menstrual cycle while some attempt to wash and reuse which is unhealthy.

She said, “we are doing this  to empower women in water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Climate Change, and livelihood development among others at the community level.

“Today, we are here to train 100 young women at Angwan Mua’zu on how to sow reusable sanitary pads using biodegradable fabrics. 

“Since I discovered reusable pads in 2017, it has helped me to reduce my plastic waste, waste generation, reduce monthly expense, and above all, it has helped me to practice good hygiene.

“Since, my team and I have been going to secondary schools to teach women of reproductive age and young girls especially those that are low-income earners on how they can sow it, how they can disinfect it quarterly. It has helped Sometimes, the women we train are tailors who sow and sell.

$By using reusable pads, you are mitigating climate change because you are reducing waste generation that is blocking our waterways and choking aquatic lives as some of these plastic pads find their way into the water body.

The more females in this category use them, the more they are reducing the climate change impact on our environment.

“For example, you can sow 12 pieces that can last you for each of your monthly cycles and change them within three to four hours, disinfect them every three months by using hot water laced with disinfectant or bleach, and use them for one year after which you may bury or burn them. 

“Then they can sow another set since the materials are local and readily available and affordable. This singular act will help us reduce the impact of climate change in Nigeria”. She added.