Menstrual Hygiene Management in schools of Nepal

Namdu is one of the villages of Dolakha district that was severely affected by the earthquake of 2015. This village lies 135 kilometers far from Kathmandu valley (5 to 6 hours travel from Kathmandu) and supports a huge range of people belonging to different ethnic groups. ECCA has been working in several schools of the village since a year. 

Jalpadevi Basic School, lying in Namdu village, is one of the schools that needs improvement in WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene) sector. The school has total 121 students, where 60% are female. However, the situation of toilet (unavailability of water, disposal place for sanitary pads etc.) has been a discouragement for students to carry out safe hygiene practices. “After the destruction of toilet during the earthquake, 2 temporary toilets were built. This provided some relief for all of us”, says one of the teachers. “But these toilets soon reached a condition which compelled students and teachers to go to the nearby jungle.”

Seeing the difficulties, ECCA supported the school to build a 3 roomed girl friendly toilet, where there is also separate urinal space. A handwashing station will also be constructed. The toilet is in the construction process and will soon be equipped with proper water facility and an incinerator to burn used sanitary pads.

How will this affect the health and education?

"With the new toilet facilities, healthy behaviours that students learn will certainly come into practice. The trend  of being absent from school among menstruating female students will decrease", says a female teacher. "We'll also be talking about it with the students, so they feel encouraged to come to school during menstruction cycle."

“We are really thankful for the support”, shared the students.

ECCA is also thankful to all our contributors who have helped to make this possible. Your continuous support will help us to improve school environment of more schools in rural Nepal.