Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue

“Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue”

Paschim Paaila organized regular interaction program WASH FORUM May series on 30^th May 2014. This time the topic was “Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue”. Celebrating World Menstrual Hygiene Day- 2014 for the first time in the world on May 28, Paschim Paaila brought down this issue in the forum with the participation of 42 participants.

The forum was very interactive and participants were cooperative with resource person Ms. Kamal Tara Bajracharya, Youth and Adolescent Program Manager, FPAN and another resource person Ms. Kamala KC, Consultant, Water Aid Nepal. During the session participants raised their queries regarding the current scenario of toilets in university’s colleges and also of public toilet which are not female friendly. 

The session was carried out by our resource person on the components of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and related it with Education, Health, Empowerment and Rights.

In this forum, volunteers were appreciated with certificates by Network Coordinator Mr. Buddha Bajracharya for successful conduction of Menstrual Hygiene Campaign on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day – 2014. At last, the session was concluded with the sharing of some experience of participants regarding menstrual hygiene which was really fruitful following with group Photos.

First International Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebrated with school students

First International Menstrual Hygiene Day was celebrated on 28^th May 2014 with the joint effort of ENPHO and Paschim Paaila in coordination with District Public Health Offices (DPHOs), Primary Health Care centers (PHCs), Health Posts and Sub-Health Posts of 4 districts (Bhaktapur, Kavre, Surkhet and Rupandehi). The main objective was to celebrate first Menstrual Hygiene day which was happening in all the 75 districts in coordination with Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Education (MoE), INGOs, NGOs and other respective bodies.

More than 30 volunteers were mobilized for the successful conduction of menstrual awareness programs at the government schools in coordination with respective VDCs Health workers. Menstrual Hygiene day was celebrated at 13 schools from 12 VDCs (Ghumkhare, Latikoili, Changunarayan, Katunje, Jhaukhel, Duwakot, Nagarkot, Baluwapati, Baluwa, Sankhu patichaur, Khopasi, Rudrapur VDCs) and 1 Birendranagar Municipality.

Total 812 school students from Government schools were benefited from the program including 589 girls and 223 boys along with many school teachers as well. The students were made aware about the general concepts of Menstruation and Menstrual Hygiene management, benefits of menstrual pads, and ways to cope with the complications. Thus the program was very successful as menstrual hygiene day is being celebrated for the first time internationally and nationally as it has been a crucial issue that needs proper attention.