Menstruation is a part of life for girls, but in Nepal, far too many suffer because of myths, shame, and lack of resources. Girls may be embarrassed or not prepared for the first period and, therefore, end up with poor personal hygiene and even miss school.
In remote areas like the Terai, the challenges are even more pronounced, where many girls face cultural taboos, inadequate hygiene facilities, and limited access to sanitary products. These barriers contribute to poor personal hygiene, missed school days, and overall stigma. Menstrual health education is crucial to address these issues, empower girls, and help them manage their periods confidently.
In Nepal, girls are often not well-informed about menstruation due to societal taboos and stigma. This ignorance can lead to health problems, humiliation, and school dropout.
Educating girls about menstrual health helps them to stay healthy, manage their periods effectively, and continue their schooling without interruption.
Shame and embarrassment: This topic is still treated as non-discussable. Menstruation is a taboo topic due to societal shame; therefore, girls are hesitant to discuss their problems or seek help openly.
Poor hygiene practices: Due to a lack of proper education, many girls resort to using unsafe materials like old rags or cloths instead of sanitary pads, putting them at risk of infections.
School absences: Many schools lack clean and private washrooms, making it difficult for girls to manage their periods. As a result, they often miss classes, affecting their education.
When girls learn about menstrual hygiene early, they gain confidence and take better care of themselves.
Lily's Leaves is a non-governmental organization that seeks to improve menstrual health and hygiene in Nepal, particularly in poor and backward sections of society. The organization aims at empowering girls and women by providing menstrual hygiene education, offering sanitary materials, and advocating for policy changes.
In the years 2080/82, Lily's Leaves distributed 2,803 sanitary pads, and in 2081/82, they provided an additional 827 pads, significantly improving access to menstrual hygiene products for those in need.
Lily's Leaves offers menstrual health education in schools and communities to educate young girls about menstrual health, ending the menstruation taboo. Lily's Leaves also extends to rural and poor areas where there is poor menstrual health education.
The objective is to provide girls convenient knowledge and help so that they can manage their periods confidently and with self-dignity.
One of the core undertakings of Lily's Leaves is the provision of sanitary products, primarily their Dignitary Sanitary Pads, which are made of cotton. These sanitary pads are an eco-friendly alternative to disposable sanitary pads, which are plastic-based and take a longer time to decompose.
Lily's Leaves distributes these pads for free in remote communities, especially in the Terai and other rural areas where access to sanitary products is limited. In the years 2080/82 and 2081/82, Lily's Leaves distributed a total of 3,630 pads. These pads are not only sustainable but also safer for girls, reducing the risk of infections and health problems caused by using unsafe materials.
A key aspect of Lily's Leaves' mission is empowering women through the production of these pads. The Dignitary Sanitary Pads are made by deaf and underprivileged women in Nepal. By providing these women with employment and skill development opportunities, Lily's Leaves helps foster women’s empowerment.
This initiative allows women who are often marginalized to contribute to society, gain financial independence, and support their families while making a meaningful impact on menstrual health.
In addition to free distribution of sanitary products, Lily's Leaves collaborates with community schools in Terai as well as in Kathmandu, including those for deaf and underprivileged girls, in areas where resources are scarce.
Through partnerships with these schools, Lily’s Leaves ensures that girls have access to menstrual products and proper hygiene facilities, which helps them stay in school and continue their education without disruption.
Lily’s Leaves is also involved in advocacy work to push for policy changes that will improve menstrual health education and increase access to sanitary products.
The organization works with local governments to influence policy changes that ensure girls and women have access to the knowledge, products, and support they need to manage their menstrual health effectively. By advocating for these changes, Lily’s Leaves is helping to create an environment where menstruation is no longer a barrier to education or health.
Being a girl in Nepal comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to menstruation. In rural areas like the Terai and the far-western regions, girls face not only the physical discomfort of periods but also the emotional pain of isolation and shame.
In the far-western regions of Nepal, such as Achham, Bajhang, and Bajura, the chhaupadi practice forces girls to sleep outside in unsafe conditions, simply because they’re menstruating. It’s a harmful tradition that exposes them to dangers like sexual violence and health risks. Disabled women, in particular, face even greater dangers, as they are more vulnerable to abuse in these secluded sheds.
For Terai girls, it is a different kind of issue. They don't tend to receive much education on menstrual health and don't have many resources available to them, so they use unsafe items such as leaves or rags during their periods. Not only does this put their health at risk, but they also end up missing school, falling behind, and being embarrassed about something absolutely normal and beautiful.
Imagine being a girl, already dealing with the pain of getting your first period and then being stripped of you dignity to being told you are unclean and impure, or unworthy of basic human dignity. Ending this stigma is about more than just supplying girls with sanitary products, it is also about giving girls the confidence to embrace their bodies, and live their lives without fear and shame.
Organizations like Lily's Leaves are trying to change this by providing reusable, pure cotton sanitary pads. These pads are a safe, sustainable alternative to unsafe disposable ones made from plastic that take years to decompose. With this assistance, girls in rural areas are able to keep their dignity while they menstruate, stay healthy, and stay in school without stigma or shame.
Menstrual health education is the pillar for empowering Nepali girls and enabling them to manage their periods with dignity. Schools and organizations like Lily's Leaves provide the girls with education and self-worth development.
We can create a society in which no girl is punished for menstruation by removing the stigma, giving the proper resources, and offering funding for education. Because of these measures, Nepali girls will have a healthier and brighter future.
Why is menstrual health education important?
Menstrual health education helps girls understand their bodies, practice proper hygiene, and attend school with confidence.
What challenges do girls in Nepal face regarding menstruation?
Many girls in Nepal face stigma, lack of sanitary products, and poor hygiene facilities, leading to health risks and school absences.
How can schools help with menstrual health education?
Schools can provide lessons on menstrual hygiene, clean toilets, and access to sanitary products to support girls during their periods.
What is Lily’s Leaves doing to support menstrual health in Nepal?
Lily’s Leaves provides education, menstrual products, and awareness programs to empower young girls and break the stigma surrounding menstruation.
How can I help promote menstrual health education?
You can support organizations like Lily’s Leaves, talk openly about menstruation, and advocate for menstrual health education in schools.
CEO representing Lily Leaves in '9th COMMUNITY CONFERENCE" organized by The British School.
One-Day Workshop At Lily Leaves - 17th June 2023
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