Dear friends and colleagues,

We are pleased to share two new Sanitation Learning Hub resources focused on menstrual health in the South Asian context. Although they share insights from different countries (Nepal and Bangladesh), they both highlight the need to address taboos, stigma, gender inequality, safety and health issues connected to menstruation, calling for more holistic and inclusive MH programming that draws on women’s and girls’ lived experiences and is led by a coordinated and adaptive WASH sector.

Blog: New Ideas to Break through Menstruation Taboos in Nepal
Strict menstruation taboos in rural Nepal are very harmful for women and girls. But access to private water taps, along with solidarity building between generations and women’s leadership, is helping to break through these taboos. Find out more in the latest SLH blog by Manju Bhatta and Pamela White sanitationlearninghub.org/2021/10/29/new...ion-taboos-in-nepal/

Journal article: “The Door has Opened”: Moving Forward with Menstrual Health Programming in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh a key entry-point to Menstrual Health (MH) programming is through hygiene-based education in schools. But insufficient recognition of the wider gender equality and health implications of menstruation remains.  This article details progress, challenges & ways forward for MH in Bangladesh. sanitationlearninghub.org/resource/the-d...mming-in-bangladesh/

Journal authors:
•    Siobhan Warrington – Living Deltas Research Hub
•    Mimi Coultas – Sanitation Learning Hub
•    Mitali Das – Pure Earth Bangladesh
•    Effat Nur – Plan International Bangladesh

I hope these resources are useful to your work. Please do send any feedback or comments to me.

Best wishes
Elaine