We improve the health of women in western Nepal and reduce discriminatory practices in connection with menstruation. The project helps to ensure that girls and women can live safely and hygienically during their menstruation. Village communities and their religious leaders, traditional healers and mothers-in-law are encouraged to rethink and local health personnel and local administrations are supported. In this way, we are strengthening the right for safe menstruation and human dignity.
In western Nepal, the degrading practice of Chhaupadi is widespread: Girls and women are considered impure during their menstruation and are regularly excluded from participating in social, economic and school life. They are locked out of the house and sleep in stables, have no access to public areas, are not allowed to eat certain foods and have no contact with men or animals. Staying overnight in stables often leads to hypothermia, respiratory illnesses, exposure to wild animals and rape.
Girls are trained at school and in girls' clubs on methods for hygienic and safe menstruation and provided with menstrual hygiene kits. A curriculum for integrating menstrual health in schools is being developed and teachers are being trained. Separate toilets for girls are being installed or renovated in the schools, including washbasins (WASH). Community meetings are organized in the villages to discuss health problems and to work out how they can improve the situation for women and girls.
The project enables women to abandon the practice and supports social norms to evolve. It aims to change the attitudes of key influencers, who advocate Chhaupadi practices, and of the women and girls, who practice them. As well it aims to improve the health conditions of women and adolescent girls. This is done by working with the community to help them recognize how harmful Chhaupadi is and how the tradition can be accommodated in a way that meets the health needs and dignity of women.
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