Support Menstrual Hygiene for 5000 Nepali Girls

1. During menstruation we should not use old clothes rags
2. We should use sanitary napkins during menstruation
3. We should safely discard the used napkins
4. We are left behind others when we use cloth napkins
5. Napkins should be changed every 4 hours.
6. Napkins shouldn’t be thrown away haphazardly
7. We should bath every day during menstruation
8. We should pack the napkin with papers and throw in dustbin
9. We must change time and again otherwise there will be infection

These were some of the points presented by school girls when they were provided with case stories regarding menstruation problem during an awareness program conducted at Dolagiri School of Changunaryan.

Menstruation is a biological process among women which plays a major role in reproduction. Yet this process is considered socially impure which is why women don’t talk or discuss about it in public. The superstition of being negatively affected if a girl on menstruation touches something has been so deeply injected in people’s mind that still in rural parts of Nepal, girls are bound to stay outside home or separetely during periods. The girls in rural areas still use cloth pieces which make them vulnerable to many diseases and infections.

Considering the need to raise awareness on menstrual hygiene and practices, Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) Nepal has started the awareness raising programs on menstrual hygiene and use of sanitary napkins among school students. As the part of this program, the first awareness program was conducted in Dolagiri School of Changunarayan. The program is supported by ICA Japan. Total 30 students aged between 13 to 16 participated in the program which was facilitated by Ms. Sarala Timsina, Ms. Pritha Khanal and Ms. Devaka Shrestha.  

During the program the students were provided with case stories out of which they presented the points which they felt were significant regarding menstrual hygiene. After the presentation of 4 groups, the facilitators explained more about the menstruation and how one should feel pure and holy during the period. Also, facilitators focused more on use of sanitary napkins rather than cloth pieces as they produce stains and can be prone to infections.

At the end, ICA Nepal provided packets of “Surakhshya” sanitary pads to school. The napkins are produced by the local women of Changunarayan which is an example of micro entrepreneurship for women empowerment as well.

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