Donate45 women have now received 5 menstrual pads each in the villages of Chaur and Bhadgaon of Bajhang District in far-western Nepal.
Thanks to Period.org who donated the eco-friendly reusable pads.
Due to the pandemic, and the postal, and transportation challenges that came with it was quite a wait to deliver the supplies. Nonetheless, they have all gone to the right place and people.
“The pictures are beautiful and the perseverance you showed to make sure people got what they needed is quite remarkable. It was an honor to support your efforts,” says Kate Barker Swindell, the Service & Operations Manager from Period.org.
This is a part of our “PADs Project,” an effort to end Period Poverty in the far-western region of Nepal.
Period poverty is defined as being unable to access sanitary products and having poor knowledge of menstruation, often due to financial and social constraints.
Villages in far-western Nepal have little or no access to menstrual products.
Due to a lack of access to healthy sanitary products, women use unclean fabrics during menstruation. This makes them unable to live normally, hence exacerbating the prejudice that already exists.
Due to the period poverty and the stigma around it, women suffer during menstruation physically, emotionally, and socially.
Women and girls are disempowered when they live in communities with social norms that stigmatize women for their very nature that makes them women (menstruation). They should not have to be embarrassed about something that is natural and biological.
After all, the human race would not be “birthed” without the women’s reproductive system.
In a recent survey done by our non-profit in 4 communities in far-western Nepal, girls between 13–19 years of age have reported they get sick and feel mistreated by their own families due to period poverty and stigma.
For instance, they are expected to eat only after everybody else in the family has eaten, often leaving them with very little food to eat. Also, they aren’t given normal nutritious food like yogurt during menstruation.
Stigmatize a girl once she reaches puberty, and you shatter her entire womanhood! The stigma needs to be fought, shattered, and won. If governments and agencies can provide free condoms, they should be able to
