Menstrual Hygiene Day 2019 Celebration

Globally, May 28 is celebrated as Menstrual Hygiene Day to aware, advocate and highlight the importance of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) to call for action to benefit all women and girls. The theme for this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day was “It’s Time for Action”. Based on this theme, Paschim Paaila and ENPHO, with the support from WaterAid Nepal organized an awareness raising event “Mahinawari Hamro Gaurav” on 28 May 2019 at Dhungedhara, Mangalbazaar, Laliltpur. 

The event included exhibition, drama, MHM related quiz and games and homemade sanitary pad making corner.

Event Highlights

Exhibition Stall and Help Desk

Information related to menstrual hygiene and its proper management were shared through an exhibition stall. To provide the message, various information, education and communication materials were displayed in the stall which included posters, leaflets, booklets, manuals and case studies. Various options available to maintain the menstrual hygiene, such as sanitary pad, homemade sanitary pad, and menstrual cup were also displayed. A help desk was set up to provide information to adolescent girls about the menstruation. More than 100 visitors visited the stall and received information.  

Drama:

Paschim Paaila youth volunteers performed drama reflecting taboos associated with menstruation in Nepalese society and providing the message on proper menstrual hygiene management for all women and girls. More than 150 people keenly observed the drama.

MHM Quiz and Games:

Audiences found the MHM related quiz and games session entertaining and informative. They most enjoyed the ‘Hit the Sanitary Pad’ game. The winners were given sanitary pad, soap and sanitizer. More than 200 people participated in the quiz and game and enjoyed the session.   

Homemade Sanitary Pad Making Training Corner:

The homemade sanitary pad making training corner drew everyone’s attention. The corner was established to orient people on making reusable homemade sanitary pad. Ms. Sabitra Devi Kunwar, Ms. Saraswoti Basnet and Ms. Sarita Shrestha from Bansighat community in Kathmandu resided as the trainers and supported for this. Previously, they all had received the training on making homemade sanitary pads through a training conducted by ENPHO and now have been working as trainers. “We received homemade sanitary pad making training from ENPHO. We feel so glad to participate in events as trainer and also teach others what we have learned. 50 people learned how to make the homemade sanitary pad. Surprisingly, even foreigners came to this corner and learned the skill to make this pad.    

More than 300 people participated in this event. Ms. Sapana KC, one of the visitors said, “It is not always possible to buy commercial sanitary pad. I am so thankful to ENPHO and Paschim Paaila for teaching how to make homemade sanitary pad. I will definitely try this at home and also use.”
-Ms. Anita Bhuju

Youth WASH Concern Workshop: A Platform to Empower Youths on WASH

Paschim Paaila in Collaboration with ENPHO, organized two days “Youth WASH Concern Workshop XVI Series-2019” on 19th and 20th May, 2019 at ENPHO Hall, Thapagaon, New Baneswor. This workshop program organized with an objective to enhance the capacity and knowledge of youths on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), to empower on WASH initiatives as social issues, to motivate them as Youth WASH ambassador and to sensitize them on importance of WASH to create environmentally healthy community.

It is knowledge sharing program based on participatory approach and interactive sessions among youths and WASH professionals. Participants were engaged in practical activity to test water quality using ENPHO Field Water Test-Kit and also presented their knowledge and idea on the topics through group-works to enhance the capacity for disseminating messages on WASH. At the end of second day, four groups of participants presented plan of actions including ideas to organize advocacy and campaigns to promote/disseminate knowledge and messages on WASH and Menstrual Hygiene Management in Lalitpur, Rasuwa, Kathmandu and Pokhara district.

Altogether, 24 youths from diverse educational background and institutions actively participated in the program actively participated the program where youths from Pokhara arrived Kathmandu to attend the two day workshop.  In facilitation of Paschim Paaila team and facilitators; the regular series of this workshop has been organizing with prior notice of application.

WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Exchanging waste to money: Opportunities and Challenges”

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) jointly organized the very first series of WASH FORUM Reloaded (WFR) on 12 May, 2019 at Pasa Yard, Chakupat, Lalitpur. The main objective of the WASH FORUM Reloaded was to provide the platform for interactions, knowledge sharing and idea generation on different environment and health issues on WASH through entrepreneurship in WASH.

Ms. Urmila Lama, Executive member of Paschim Paaila, welcome all participants in the program with a welcome speech. The very first series of WASH FORUM Reloaded was organized on topic “Exchanging waste to money: Opportunities and Challenges” under the theme “Solid Waste Management” to share about techniques and technologies used by doko recyclers for recyclable solid waste management business and to highlight possible opportunities for youths in entrepreneurship of solid waste management.

Ms. Brinda Dewan, Urban Waste Manager from Doko Recyclers as the speaker of the program highlighted motivation for start-up business on recyclable solid waste management and associated issues and challenges faced in the business of recyclable solid waste management. Ms. Dewan also drew focus of participants towards lack of recycling factories for waste products such as glass, motherboard and bulbs as possible opportunity for willing to work in the sector of recyclable solid waste management business. During the program, the opportunity for youth was focused on advocacy for appropriate policy for solid waste management business and up cycling of waste to valuable products as small scale start up business.

WASH FORUM Reloaded was brought as version 60.1 of WASH FORUM. WASH FORUM was a monthly interaction forum for knowledge sharing and advocacy regarding water, sanitation and hygiene and disasters/epidemics as social issues, not merely health or, environment issues since April, 2010 in a topic on concerned issues of the time.  With new approach to WASH FORUM, WASH FORUM reloaded will be organized based on the broader theme for 3 to 4 series in specific topic fitting in the theme.

Also during the program, the winners of Facebook Photo Competition organized on the occasion of World Water Water Day 2019 on theme “Leaving No One Behind: Faecal Sludge Management for Safe Water” were appreciated with the certificate and gifts by Ms. Kamala K.C., initiator of Paschim Paaila. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, President of Paschim Paaila briefed about WASH FORUM, concept of WASH FORUM Reloaded and thanked the participants.

Altogether, 35 youths, WASH volunteers and WASH practitioners attended the program with interactive session. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila facilitated the overall program.