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