In collaboration with Marsa Sexual Health Center, Kayani Project hosted an awareness session in Mar Elias refugee camp on Tuesday tackling topics concerning reproductive health and menstruation.
Conducted by sexual health educators at Marsa, the session targeted adult Palestinian and Syrian women residing in Mar Elias refugee camp aimed to inform the women about the mechanisms of their biology to equip them with knowledge about the changes that occur in tandem with variations in their menstrual cycle.
Fatima Khalil, one of the session’s facilitators, discussed the importance of learning about topics as such for women to be able to differentiate what is considered a normal and healthy symptom and what is not.
Along with explaining the facts about physical and hormonal changes that may occur, participants partook in an engaging trivia that was designed to discern symptoms that require medical attention from those which are ordinary.
Khalil emphasized that it is crucial for women to know “enough about their bodies or at least know when to see a doctor.”
The facilitators also aimed at deconstructing myths surrounding a woman’s period and correcting traditional do’s and don’ts with scientific facts such as factitious beliefs regarding not showering while menstruating. Participants were especially engaged in this segment of the session as they shared their own stories of what they had been falsely taught about their bodies along with their personal experience from doctor visits.
The facilitators then went on to explore different period products with the participants while detailing information about the methods of usage along with the pros and cons of each product. Accompanying this explanation was visual aid of those such as reusable pads, tampons, and menstrual cups which familiarized the women with alternative hygienic means that are mostly uncommon in Lebanon.
Also facilitating the session as a Marsa representative, Pamela highlighted that topics as such can be stigmatized, yet are crucial discussion subjects as they are every woman’s right.
“There are so many systems out there that are trying to marginalize women from their bodies and have put so many obstacles in front of our accessibility to product and sexual and reproductive services in Lebanon,” Pamela told Kayani Project.