Effective menstrual management is essential for the mental and physical well being of women. However, many women in low income countries lack access to the materials and facilities required. They are thus restricted in their activities whilst menstruating thus compromising their education, income, and domestic responsibilities. This study describes the menstrual management challenges faced by women in an emergency situation in Uganda. Fifty interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with women from villages, IDP camps, and schools so that the menstrual management of the host population could be compared with the IDPs. This study showed that in IDP camps there was a significant lack of materials including soap, underpants and absorbing cloth, and facilities like latrines and bathing shelters. As a consequence women in IDP camps suffer with poor health and diminished dignity. There is also a lack of education about menstruation and reproductive health and practices are strongly influenced by cultural taboos.
Since publication of the 3rd Edition of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Drinking Water Quality guidelines, global adoption of water safety plans (WSPs) has been gathering momentum.Most guidance lists managerial commitment and 'buy-in' as critical to the success of WSP implementation; yet the detail on how to generate it is lacking. This commentary discusses aspects of managerial commitment to WSPs. We argue that the public health motivator should be clearer and a paramount objective and not lost among other, albeit legitimate, drivers such as political or regulatory pressures and financial efficiency.
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