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".

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