Room where girls can take rest during menstrual discomfort

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, Sept. 26: In a bid to ease the woes during menstruation of girl students, the local government in collaboration with the Pace Nepal, a non-profit organisation, has set up ‘menstrual rest rooms’ at community schools in Jumla. 

Such rooms have been set up at two schools each in Hima Rural Municipality, Kankasundari Rural Municipality and Sinja Rural Municipality. 

According to the schools, if a female student experiences menstrual cramps or discomfort during her menstrual period, she is allowed to seek rest in a designated room.

Hemraj Bhatt, the project coordinator of the Pace Nepal, said in the rooms the female students experiencing acute menstrual pain can take rest and change their clothes as needed. 

According to him, the rooms have been set up in Kankasundari Secondary School of Ludku of Kankasundari Rural Municipality, Sinja Rural Municipality Secondary school, Chulel and Mahadev Secondary School Guthi of Sinja Rural Municipality, and Annapurna Secondary School Mashtamad and Bhanu Secondary School Mahanbaipathalkhola of Hima Rural Municipality.

Also, such rooms have been set up in Nandadevi Secondary School and Rupadevi Basic School located in Narahari Nath Rural Municipality-3. 

According to Bhatta, menstrual rest rooms have been constructed under the drinking water and climate-friendly drinking water sanitation project.

The presence of such a room in the schools has made it easier for female students to rest and change sanitary pads during their menstrual periods.

Tirtha Wad, the ward chair of Sinja Rural Municipality-2, appreciated the construction of the room and said it was a highly positive development.

He mentioned that such facilities would help facilitate girl’s education. 

He highlighted that providing these amenities encourages girls to attend school regularly after their menstrual cycles, positively impacting their educational participation.

Lokendra Prasad Upadhyay, the principal of Kanakasundari Secondary School, informed that the rest room is for girl students who are already feeling weak and suffering from cramps threatening to worsen their period woes.

So far, 30 to 35 girl students have already used that room, he said, adding that the rest room needs to be managed properly. 

Bhatta said the organisation has already allocated budget to purchase required materials for the rooms. 

Besides, there are programmes in schools that serve as a model for sanitary pad management.

Laxman Bahadur Shahi, the chairman of the Hima Rural Municipality, conveyed his appreciation for the organisation's support in various social and disaster-related projects.