Sunday, 02 July 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Dirty and unhygienic public toilets in the provisional State capital are a major concern among women, especially those who are going through menstruation. Most of the public toilets in the city were found unhygienic.
The women whom this correspondent talked to said that they are forced to use them under compulsion though they know that they are unhealthy and unsafe for them. “The lack of clean and safe toilets makes us vulnerable to multiple diseases,” said a resident of Dehradun Mohsina.
Recounting her experiences, a local citizen Rekha said that the public toilets here become the most unhygienic for them to use during their time of periods. “Normally, we keep away from them. But things become precarious for us when we are having periods. They are extremely dirty and not fit for changing sanitary pads,” she said. She further said that the State government should focus on setting up hygienic public toilets for the women in the city.
Echoing the same view, another city dweller Shikha said that the public toilets lack the basic hygienic standards. “Moreover, that they do not have bins is a major concern for women during their periods. I have never seen a woman sanitation worker cleaning the part of the public toilets meant for women. As they are not being cleaned, they are stinking. This may lead to infection which may prove risky for those women who are having periods,” she added.
Gynaecologist Dr Anjali Rawat said, “This is absolutely true that dirty public toilets adversely affect women’s health. Public toilets not being cleaned at regular intervals can directly cause urinary infections among women. Apart from this, during periods, women can catch infection much more easily as compared to the normal times. If dirty toilets are used, it may cause uterus infection to women during menstruation.”
