Ensuring Access to Essential Supplies and Facilities for Women’s Well-being
The ability to manage menstruation with dignity is a fundamental human right, yet this critical aspect of women’s health is often neglected in emergency response efforts. As disasters and displacement disrupt access to essential menstrual hygiene services, vulnerable women and girls face increased risks to their physical and mental well-being.
Providing comprehensive menstrual health and hygiene support in disaster shelters and temporary camps is essential to upholding the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls. This requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the unique challenges faced by menstruating individuals in crisis settings.
Barriers to Menstrual Hygiene in Disaster Contexts
Disasters that force communities into makeshift shelters or temporary camps pose significant barriers to proper menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Key challenges include:
Lack of Privacy and Safe Spaces: Cramped living quarters and shared sanitation facilities severely limit privacy and personal space for women and girls to change, clean, and dispose of menstrual materials discreetly. This can lead to feelings of shame, embarrassment, and isolation.
Inadequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Infrastructure: Disruptions to water supply, sewage systems, and waste management services make it extremely difficult to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation. Insufficient access to clean water, soap, and private bathing areas heightens health risks.
Shortage of Menstrual Supplies: Displaced populations often lack access to affordable, culturally appropriate menstrual products. Resorting to unsafe alternatives like old rags or leaves increases the chances of infections and other complications.
Lack of Disposal Solutions: Proper waste management systems for used menstrual materials are frequently non-existent in emergency settings, leading to unhygienic and unsafe disposal practices.
Sociocultural Taboos and Stigma: Deeply rooted cultural norms and beliefs surrounding menstruation can exacerbate the challenges faced by women and girls, forcing them to conceal their needs and endure menstruation-related restrictions and isolation.
These barriers not only jeopardize the physical health and safety of women and girls, but also undermine their ability to participate fully in community life, access education, and maintain livelihoods during and after a crisis.
Integrating Menstrual Health into Humanitarian Response
To address the unique MHM needs of women and girls in disaster contexts, humanitarian actors must adopt a comprehensive, gender-sensitive approach that spans multiple sectors. Key interventions include:
1. Ensuring Availability of Menstrual Supplies and Materials
- Distribute a variety of culturally appropriate menstrual products, including disposable pads, reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups, and tampons, based on individual preferences and needs.
- Provide complementary supplies such as underwear, soap, and washing/drying lines to support proper hygiene practices.
- Establish secure distribution points that offer privacy and dignity for women and girls to access supplies discreetly.
2. Improving WASH Facilities and Services
- Construct separate, well-lit, and lockable toilet and bathing facilities for women and girls, equipped with running water, soap, and disposal mechanisms.
- Designate private spaces for washing, drying, and changing menstrual materials.
- Ensure regular cleaning and maintenance of WASH facilities to uphold hygiene standards.
3. Implementing Effective Waste Management Systems
- Integrate menstrual waste disposal into overall solid waste management plans, providing dedicated, discreet collection and disposal options.
- Explore eco-friendly disposal methods, such as incinerators or specialized pits, to safely manage used menstrual products.
- Educate users on proper disposal practices to prevent environmental contamination.
4. Addressing Sociocultural Norms and Taboos
- Engage with women, girls, and community leaders to understand cultural beliefs and practices surrounding menstruation.
- Conduct awareness-raising campaigns to challenge stigma and normalize discussions around menstrual health.
- Integrate menstrual health education into broader health, hygiene, and life skills programming.
5. Fostering Participatory Approaches and Accountability
- Actively involve women and girls in the design, implementation, and monitoring of MHM interventions.
- Establish feedback mechanisms to ensure responsive and contextually appropriate menstrual health services.
- Advocate for the integration of MHM indicators into humanitarian assessment and reporting frameworks.
By addressing the multifaceted challenges surrounding menstrual health in disaster settings, humanitarian actors can uphold the rights, dignity, and well-being of women and girls, enabling their meaningful participation in recovery and resilience-building efforts.
Spotlight on Successful MHM Interventions
Several humanitarian organizations have demonstrated innovative and effective approaches to supporting menstrual health and hygiene in crisis-affected communities. These initiatives offer valuable insights and learnings:
MHM in Displacement Camps: The Rohingya Response in Bangladesh
In response to the influx of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, OXFAM implemented a comprehensive MHM program that included the construction of private, women-only bathing facilities equipped with menstrual waste disposal systems. The organization also distributed reusable menstrual pads and provided MHM education to address sociocultural taboos. This holistic approach helped to improve the privacy, safety, and dignity of women and girls in the refugee camps.
Integrating MHM into WASH Programming: Action Against Hunger in Pakistan
Action Against Hunger’s emergency WASH response in Pakistan recognized the need to address the specific menstrual hygiene needs of displaced women. The organization facilitated dialogue platforms for both women and men to discuss sanitation risks and barriers, while also providing individual items like reusable pads and “safe community pits” for discreet and hygienic disposal of menstrual waste. This inclusive, community-driven approach helped to address cultural norms and ensure a more gender-sensitive WASH response.
Catalyzing MHM Innovations: Plan International’s Laundry Bag Initiative in Malawi
In a refugee camp in Malawi, Plan International co-created a simple yet effective solution with adolescent girls to address their MHM challenges. The organization designed discreet laundry bags that provided privacy for girls to wash and dry their reusable menstrual cloths. This innovative, participatory approach empowered girls to manage their menstruation with dignity and safety during displacement.
These examples demonstrate the value of integrating menstrual health considerations into various sectors of humanitarian response, from WASH to protection and camp management. By adopting a collaborative, user-centered approach, organizations can develop tailored, culturally appropriate interventions that address the unique needs of women and girls in crisis-affected communities.
Strengthening the Evidence Base and Building Capacity
While the humanitarian sector has made significant strides in recognizing the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, there remains a need for further research, capacity building, and systematic integration of MHM into emergency preparedness and response.
Key priorities for the future include:
- Expanding the evidence base on effective MHM interventions in diverse disaster contexts through rigorous monitoring and evaluation.
- Developing standardized guidelines, tools, and training resources to support the integration of MHM across humanitarian sectors.
- Fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination to ensure a coherent, comprehensive approach to menstrual health in emergencies.
- Advocating for the inclusion of MHM-specific indicators in humanitarian assessment and reporting frameworks.
- Strengthening the capacity of local and national actors to plan, implement, and sustain MHM initiatives in disaster-prone areas.
By addressing these gaps and elevating menstrual health as a critical component of humanitarian response, the global community can uphold the rights, dignity, and well-being of women and girls affected by disasters and displacement.
Conclusion
Ensuring access to essential menstrual health and hygiene services in disaster shelters and temporary camps is a fundamental aspect of providing dignified, gender-responsive humanitarian assistance. By adopting a comprehensive, participatory approach that addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by women and girls, humanitarian actors can safeguard the physical and mental well-being of menstruating individuals, while also empowering them to actively participate in recovery and resilience-building efforts.
Through continued research, capacity building, and cross-sectoral collaboration, the global community can strengthen the integration of menstrual health into emergency preparedness and response, upholding the rights and dignity of women and girls in crisis-affected communities.
