Amishika Dhaurali: Addressing Menstrual Hygiene and Mental Health in Rural Bhaktapur, Nepal
Amishika Dhaurali’s Laidlaw Leadership-in-Action project brought her to Bhaktapur, Nepal, where she worked with GurkhaHealth, a nonprofit organization, to address pressing issues surrounding menstrual hygiene and mental health in rural village communities. Although Bhaktapur has modernized in some areas, much of her focus was on the more remote and underserved regions where cultural taboos and lack of resources continue to pose significant challenges for women.
One of her primary goals was to improve menstrual hygiene education. Amishika observed that many women in these communities had limited access to proper menstrual products and were using improper sanitary methods due to misconceptions and a lack of education. She organized listening sessions to gain the trust of local women, breaking down cultural taboos surrounding menstrual and reproductive health by first understanding their perspectives. Through these sessions, she learned about issues such as women using only one sanitary pad per day, which posed significant health risks due to the scarcity of resources.
Amishika distributed care packages, which included sanitary products, and conducted menstrual hygiene campaigns in local schools. In addition to educating women and girls about proper menstrual care, she also tackled body image and mental health issues, providing an outlet for discussions that are rarely addressed in these communities. She discovered that many women felt isolated, as their husbands worked abroad in places like Doha and Dubai, leaving them with significant responsibilities.
The project also revealed deeper societal challenges. In Bhaktapur, cultural barriers continue to make conversations about birth control and reproductive health difficult. Amishika found that families often preferred abortion over birth control, as it allowed them to select for male children, reinforcing societal norms that value sons over daughters.
Despite the challenges, Amishika noted the strength and resilience of the women she worked with. Through her efforts, she not only provided education and resources but also empowered these women by organizing empowerment photo shoots, an important symbolic gesture in a culture where women are often marginalized.
Reflecting on her experience, Amishika remains committed to continuing her work in women's health and empowerment in Nepal. She plans to return to Nepal and partner with GurkhaHealth again to provide long-term support and create sustainable change for women in these communities. She emphasized that even though the change may seem small at first, the long-term impact of continued education and resource distribution will help transform women's health in Bhaktapur over time.
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