Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)
Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is a pertinent issue not only for sexual and reproductive health and family planning but also for women’s and adolescent girls’ empowerment and social justice. Less access to sanitation facilities like sanitary pad, soap, water most of girl escape classes during period. Menstruation affects various aspects like education, health, economics, dignity, participation of a girl/ women life, as
- They missed school during their periods due to lack of facilities.
- Use of improvised menstrual hygiene materials leads to infection.
- Women missed their work if they don’t access to the facilities they needed.
- Suffer from discomfort, endure teasing, shaming and face exclusion from everyday activities.
- Girls get distracted or less productive during schools, work and activities due to pain, discomfort.
With an objective to uplift the menstrual hygiene status of girls and women in Ramechhap Municipality, BSN is implementing the project “Promoting Menstrual Hygiene Education and Re-usable Sanitary Napkin in Schools and Women Groups”. The project is funded by our German donor organization:
Stiftung Soziale und Ökologische Zukunft
(Foundation Social and Ecological Future)
For further updates about the project implementation, please follow our blog post through the link.
Secondary – High School Scholarship
Bajra Samaj Nepal provided schools fees, bags, stationery for 47 students studying grade 6 to 10. Among them, 10 students from Dangsingtar community were continued scholarship recipients from the previous year. BSN selected an additional 37 students from Dangsingtar and Chyasku community for class 6-10 to continue their studies in Janakalyan High School. Priority was given to children from Dangsingtar who passed from primary school, grade 5. Priority was given to children who needed motivation not to drop out of school after primary school due to the additional effort required to walk one hour uphill to the middle and secondary school, and additional expenses required for low income families.
BSN has formed a three-member scholarship committee to choose needy children for scholarships. The criteria included: economically disadvantaged students who’s parents had to be supportive and weigh farming labor requirements with education. Students applied for the program to BSN and demonstrated in an interview with the committee that they were talented, that they had passed the preceding year’s class with good marks and were serious about their studies. BSN provided Rs. 5,000 each for a one-year scholarship. Students used this amount to purchase school uniforms, exercise books, bags, pens, and other study related equipments. Two students dropped out of school from class 6 and their scholarships were suspended and given to two new students. BSN monitors each student’s progress.
Technical Education
BSN provided full scholarship to two students from Dangsingtar who were able to pass the entrance exam for the assistant nurse midwife (ANM) course at Sindhuli for eighteen months. BSN formed a three-member committee for counseling and guiding students interested to studying a technical subject in a reputed technical school – in the ANM course, or other technical course such as JTA, Sub-Overseer, etc. The criteria used in selection: applicants must have a school Leaving Certificate pass, poor family economic background, talented, willing to train and work in the selected field. The two ANM scholarships were given to Nabina Magar and Gita Magar, who started their 18-month course last year mid July. They are now studying with good marks.
Women Heath Camp
BSN successfully organized a Cervical Cancer Screening (VIA) Camp with the technical support of Tamakoshi Cooperative Hospital Manthali, Ramechhap and District Hospital Ramechhap at the premise of District Hospital Ramechhap.
In this free camp, 214 women were checked, of which 18 showed suspected signs and were referred for further treatment in reputed hospitals in Kathmandu. At the same time, 138 patients benefited from free USG service.
BSN mobilized the ‘Mahila Swasthya Swayamsebikaa’ Volunteers from Ramechhap Municipality ward no. 8 and 9, printed some pamphlets as well as broadcasted notice in a local FM radio to inform about the camp.
Women’s Savings & Credit Groups
Bajra Samaj Nepal is providing training and some support to four women’s savings & credit groups. A total of 95 women are members. Women make small savings contributions to the groups and are eligible for taking loans at a fixed rate of interest. Total assets of four groups is Rs. 354,175 as of June 30, 2017. Loans are used for goat raising, pig raising, small scale business, household expenses etc.
Community Nursery Development
BSN and ‘Dugursing Hoop Forest Users’ Group made an agreement to produce and plant seedlings around existing natural water sources (springs) at Dhade, Chyasku with full participation of the users. They selected tree and bush species that will prevent erosion and not draw water from the spring area. The community agreed to protect the area around the spring from grazing livestock, cutting of timber and firewood. BSN acquired these seedlings and with community labor transplanted nearby the spring source in the month of July during the rainy season. They selected species of include trees such as Dar, Nebaro, and Utis which BSN were recommended for their protective qualities. The area is protected from livestock by a living fence of ghangaru (local thorny bushes).
