Sanitary napkin incinerators will be installed in all the public health centres and labour wards of government hospitals in the State, said V. K. Subburaj, Principal Secretary, Health.
Launching sanitary napkin vending machines and an incinerator at the Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) here on Tuesday, he said awareness of menstrual hygiene was very low among women in the State. There was an immediate need to sensitise them to the importance of safe disposal of sanitary napkins.
“Women are more prone to reproductive track diseases and nearly 50 per cent women in the country suffer from such diseases. Infections spread fast when there is lack of menstrual hygiene.”
The Health Department has been taking measures to implement a rigorous menstrual hygiene awareness campaigns in the State. “Improper disposal of napkins is a major environmental issue. Clogging of drains has led to fast spread of diseases.”
The three sanitary napkin destroyers and a sanitary napkin vending machine, procured at the cost of Rs.2.25 lakh, will be installed at the labour ward, post-natal ward and post-Caesarean ward. Vending machines will dispense napkins for Rs.2. A similar dispenser and incinerator was introduced in Nurses' hostel at KMC in February.
Biometric attendance for classes will be introduced shortly, he said. With the Rs.35-crore infrastructural works at KMC hospital and college nearing completion, the college will increase its student strength from 100 to 150, he added.
On appointing medical superintendents in hospitals, Mr. Subburaj said the government decided to appoint two people of same cadre for hospital and college, to make sure the colleges get enough attention.
“We received complaints about some deans who concentrated on hospitals, neglecting college activities. This prompted us to appoint a dedicated superintendent for hospitals, ” he said.
KMC Dean V.Kanagasabai said a mammography unit would come up at the hospital. Office-bearers of KMC's students union were also installed at the function.
