Provide One Ambulance for Archale village of Nepal

Since the fund raised for the project to provide an ambulance wasn't enough for getting one, we decided to use these funds on something more realistic and do-able project. Thus, our work has shifted currently towards Menstrual Hygiene Management among Nepali girls. Menstruation is still considered big taboo where several irrational restricitons are imposed upon women. To shatter the myth and make sure every girl knows about her menstrual health and methods to stay hygienic, ICA Nepal has started approach to reach grassroots level and provide awareness to them. The funds raised here have been used for women who has stories like these. 

“I was 13 years old when I got my first period. My mother wasn’t at home so I ran away to jungle. I belong to Bajura where i had to stay in Chhaupadi(menstrual shed). For coming three years, I experienced Chhaupdi where I had to bath at early 3 am before sun rise. I used to experience a lot of difficulties back then" 

"I was selected for Rastrapati Running Shield from my school where during one game I was on second day of my period. I found no private space to change uniform which was skirt. I requested not to play but was forced to participate in the sports. At the last moment, I collapsed and hospitalized”

This week, ICA Nepal conducted two programs on Menstrual Hygiene Management with local women from Koteshwor on 25^th May, 2017 and women group from Changunarayan on 30^th May, 2017 respectively. Marking the International Menstruation Hygiene Management Day on 28^th May, 2017, these programs were conducted with the motive on improving the menstrual hygiene and breaking the menstrual taboos. 

On 25^th May, An Interaction Program on Menstrual Hygiene Management was held among local women of Koteshwor, Kathmandu who were mostly social mobilizers and development workers. Total 35 participants participated in the program which was facilitated by Mr. Upendra Dhakal, who worked in the WASH sector for several years.

The program provided very integrated information on menstruation. Starting from the biological process of menstruation, the stages and cycle of menstruation, the program moved ahead with more focus on managing hygienic behaviors. The methods of managing hygiene while using cloth pads or sanitary pads, importance of maintaining personal hygiene as well making hygienic and female friendly toilets were focused. It was asserted that every women should be accessible to clean sanitary napkin materials, clean changing places, regular water, soap and towel and proper disposing facilities. Several health risks which can occur in the lack of proper hygiene were also shared by the facilitator. Conditions such as vaginal yeast, pubic lice, infection, itchiness and rashes leading upto ovarian and cervical cancer can happen if the hygiene is not maintained properly.

The program on 30^th May, 2017 was an Interaction Program on Menstrual Hygiene Management which was conducted among local women of Changunarayan. The program was organized by ICA Nepal and facilitated by Ms. Pritha Khanal where 15 women participated.

Women should be able to live with dignity and respect during menstruation. The fact that women are treated as impure during menstruation needs to be changed. This message was well conveyed in the program. The role of women on improving MHM in their communities were also shared int he program.

We hope you will support us reach more such communities and schools. For this, we have our next fundraising campaign which link is given below.

Do check this out and provide your kind support to us. Thank you. 

Links:

• Help more women to be Menstrually healthy and happy.