Here’s Why Students At Lahore’s BNU Covered Campus Walls With Sanitary Pads

Menstrual Hygiene Matters

Experts say, in total women spend around six to seven years of their lives menstruating and for them to have a healthy and dignified life, they must have access to toilets, water, soap, and sanitary towels. Yet too often, their needs are being neglected.

The Menstrual Hygiene Day, which aims to raise awareness about the issue, is to take place on May 28. Some people ask about menstrual hygiene and its importance.

Women rights: women lack access to safe sanitary practices

On any given day more than 800 million women between the ages 15 and 49 have their period. However, globally over 1.25 billion women lack access to a toilet facility during menstruation, according to the charity WaterAid.

Furthermore, the United Nations estimates that due to lack of Facilities, a large number of girls in Africa get to miss school during their period and will eventually have to drop out of school as a result.

Why is menstruation still taboo?

In many countries around the world, menstruation is still a taboo. Women refer to periods using different phrases, a survey in 190 countries found.

In some parts of Nepal, women observe “chaupadi”, a tradition which cuts them from the rest of the society during their menstrual cycle. This custom obliges women to stay away from other people while they are on their period.

They are not allowed to meet with other people, enter houses or temples, use public facilities or touch others during their period.

Despite being outlawed by Nepal’s Supreme Court in 2005, this practice is still practiced by 95 percent of girls, says grassroots organization Action Works Nepal.

Girls in Iran and India believe menstruation is a disease, according to WaterAid.

In Africa discrimination against women is present. In Sierra Leone, for instance, some women are not allowed to attend religious ceremonies as they are considered to be tainted in some way. Apollos Nwafor, WaterAid’s West Africa advocacy manager, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

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Posted by modousarr on May 27 2016. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.