BENGALURU : To promote use of eco-friendly products during periods, Lalitha Subbarao Nanjundayya Memorial Trust (LSN Trust) has kicked off an awareness campaign 'Sustainable Menstruation and Save the Environment' for underprivileged women and young girls. The campaign highlights three benefits: no rash, no trash, less cash.The campaign raises awareness on the harmful effects of using sanitary napkins. One of the main topics of discussion is women’s health and hygiene. Series of workshops will be conducted to promote the use of bio-degradable menstrual products such as reusable cloth pads. The trust also hopes to help underprivileged women create livelihoods by providing training and materials to make low-cost cloth pads.
While addressing the audience, Dr Meenakshi Bharath emphasised on the impact of sanitary napkins on users, but also the environment. She also pointed out how plastics from sanitary napkins can induce itching, irritation, and vaginal discharge. She advocated the use of alternatives such as cloth pads that can be washed and worn and menstrual cups that last for five years, depending on usage patterns. She said that the average woman uses 120-plus sanitary napkins annually, costing at least `1,200 per annum. Cost of a set of four cloth pads is `400 and a menstrual cup is `450. “They have three benefits: no rash, no trash, less cash."For details, contact: nanjundayya.nalini@gmail.com