Debate on “Activism for Menstrual Hygiene and Health”

Prepared by: Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and ENPHO in collaboration with Debate Network Nepal-DNN organized a debate program on ‘Activism for Menstrual Hygiene and Health’ on 29^th May, 2020 on the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene day 2020 through Zoom platform. The program was organized with an objective to mark Menstrual Hygiene (MH) Day 2020 highlighting activism for menstrual hygiene through debate.

In the program, 6 debaters from DNN were on the house (platform) with 3 were as representation of government side and 3 from the opponent side. On the debate, proposition team spoke on the side of motion: “This house, as the feminist movement, will fund the research for Technology XP” while opposition side spoke against the motion within 7 minutes time-frame and at last a reply speaker from each side briefly gave their feedbacks again. To elaborate the context on the debate, an upcoming technology named Technology XP was hypothesized to be able to allow women to never have their period and subsequently conception too to overcome the period pain and not to make period as blockage for career of women.

In the debate, speakers put forward views based on researches. This program highlighted on the positive sides of technology and its contribution for women on relieving menstrual sufferings and conception difficulties and leading a great life with debaters from opposition as the limitations of technology such as inaccessibility to marginalized groups, cultural unacceptability and more importantly, the idea of banning motherhood brought, gift of nature, by the technology and highlighted on importance on eradicating taboos and misconceptions related to menstrual hygiene instead. The verdict at the end announced opposition team as winner to better support for awareness regarding menstrual hygiene than to bring in the technology.

Mr. Dixit Awasthi from DNN moderated debate and Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila, facilitated the overall program. Altogether, 30 youths participated in the program.

Every year Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated on 28 May to raise awareness and break the silence for the issues related to menstruation. This year theme for Menstrual Hygiene Day 2020 was "Menstrual Talk, Dignity First".

Organized WASH-CO Workshop I Series 2020

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator
Prepared by: Ms. Susma Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), jointly organized three days “WASH-CO Workshop I Series 2020” from 16^th to 18^th May, 2020 through Zoom platform. This is the very first workshop organized with an objective to enhance the capacity and knowledge on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and its linkage to COVID-19 to empower youths on WASH and COVID-19 to support in preventive measures and bring youths as change maker.

The three day workshop covered sessions related to WASH, COVID-19, hygiene behavior and practice, impact of COVID-19 on SDGs and social media use through presentations from WASH professionals and media professional. The three day workshop moreover remained participatory with interactions and discussions with and among participants. Altogether 40 participants were selected through an application to attend the workshop from various educational background including public health, environmental science, social work, engineering and bio-technology. 

“Participating in the workshop allowed me to gain unknown facts in regard to WASH and COVID-19 and beyond the general information. Thank you Paschim Paaila for providing the opportunity” Ritendra Babu.

Web Series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on COVID-19 and WASH

-Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP batch III

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) jointly organized 6^th series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on “COVID-19 and WASH” on 15 May 2020 on zoom meeting platform. The program was organized with an objective to share information about COVID-19 and its present status with highlight of session on linkages of COVID-19 and WASH.

Mr. Sudan Raj Panthi, National Professional Officer, Environmental Health at World Health Organization (WHO) resided as resource person in the program. During the program, epidemic curve of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, its chain of transmission and elements of standard precautions were shared. Resource person gave more focus on preventive measures in concern to hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene and insisted that maintaining hand-hygiene is key preventive measure of COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from personal hygiene information showing importance regarding decontamination, principles of cleaning and health care waste management during this state of COVID-19 pandemic was also explained by National Professional Officer of WHO Mr. Sudan Raj Panthi.

More than 55 participants actively attended session of WASH FORUM Reloaded on zoom platform and put forward queries during Q&A session.