Photo: UNFPA NEPAL he Norwegian government has partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights of women and girls in Nepal. The $3 million project focuses particularly on adolescents, youth, people living with disability and those left furthest behind in underserved municipalities in the Madhes […]
KATHMANDU, Nov 25: The Government of Norway has entered into a partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights of women and girls in Nepal. It focuses particularly on adolescents, youth, people living with disability and those left furthest behind in underserved municipalities in Madhesh Province and Sudurpaschim Provinces.
COVID-19 is taking its toll on sexual and reproductive health in the country. The global pandemic has thrown up challenges to the government's goals of reducing maternal and child mortality rate while unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion have increased due to lack of access to contraceptives and safe abortion service, according to the Department of Health Services under the Family Welfare Division.
KATHMANDU: A project aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health and implemented by the Family Planning Association of Nepal has double achieved the
KATHMANDU, October 5: A project aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health and implemented by the Family Planning Association of Nepal has double achieved the targets.
Three districts in the Kathmandu Valley and two others: Kaverepalanchowk and Makwanpur were covered by the project implemented with the financial and technical support of the Japan Trust Fund. It is said during a period of two years that sexual and reproductive health services were provided to 71,125 adolescents and women.
The project will be ending this month. The project was successful in providing integrated sexual and reproductive health and HIV services to adolescents and women who survived the 2015 April earthquake and the recent Melamchi flood. In the flood affected areas of Melamchi, an integrated reproductive health camp was organised and ‘dignity kits’ to 80 women.
Screening of pelvic cancer, HIV testing and counseling, pregnancy, family planning, pathology services and counseling for the prevention of gender-based violence were provided through the camp.
The necessity of sexual and reproductive health services is unavoidable and its need is considered more significant during disaster. The FPAN in a press statement said that 1,200 people from the Chepang community of Makwanpur were the beneficiaries of the project. Among the service recipients, 24 percent are adolescents and youths.
More 200 service providers and ‘sathi’ teachers were given orientations on the topics with thorough training sessions. Similarly, public in the affected areas were educated and informed about it through radio programmes. The FPAN says it continues its services during COVID-19 pandemic with the adherence to safety protocols recommended by the World Health Organisaiton.
UNITED NATIONS, July 12: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for efforts to protect people's reproductive health rights as the world marks the World Population Day, which falls on July 11 annually.
"As we mark World Population Day, let us pledge to ensure the reproductive health rights of everyone, everywhere," said the UN chief in his message for the international day.
"The COVID- 19 pandemic continues to upend our world, reaching one grim milestone after another. In addition to the millions of lives tragically lost, there has been a less visible toll: a shocking rise in domestic violence as women were forced into isolation with their abusers; empty maternity wards as women postponed motherhood; and unintended pregnancies due to curtailed access to contraceptive services," said the secretary-general.
"Our latest estimates indicate that COVID-19 will push 47 million women and girls into extreme poverty. Many girls who are out of school may never return," the top UN official continued.
"In every corner of the world, we are seeing a reversal of hard-won gains and an erosion of women's reproductive rights, choices and agency. With the onset of the pandemic, resources for sexual and reproductive health services were diverted," he said.
"These gaps in access to health rights are unacceptable. Women cannot be alone in this fight," the secretary-general added.
World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. It was inspired by the public interest in Five Billion Day on July 11, 1987, the approximate date on which the world's population reached 5 billion people. World Population Day aims to increase people's awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights
US President Joe Biden's intention to restore funding to UNFPA -- the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency -- will have an impact on the lives of women and girls in Nepal as well.
