Family Planning in Nepal Yet to Meet Full Potential

A recent statement made by Health and Reproduction Ministry (MoHP) Acting Secretary Sushil Nath Pyakurel informed that the Bill on Reproductive Health Right is in the phase of implementation while adding that the family planning service is a fundamental right in the Nepal Constitution.

It has been observed that despite the government providing family planning services for free and Nepalis knowledge about these services, only 50 percent of the population was availing these services.

According to a 2016 survey conducted in Nepal, over 90 percent of the survey-participants said that they were aware of the family planning services but only a section of them were making use of them.

However, the study also states that 20 percent of women between the reproductive age of 15-49 years were forced to undergo abortions in the absence of family planning services

Government Initiatives for Family Planning

Affirming the government’s efforts at a recent Family Health Division program of MoHP Pyakurel said, “The government, like availing essentials drugs to the citizens, will prioritize expanding the access of family planning services to one and all.”

Speaking further he said that the MoHP is planning to make nurses introduce the concept of reproductive health at the school level.

Department of Health Services Director General Dr Gunaraj Lohani said that the family planning services will be made effective and available to all to rule out unsafe abortions.

MoHP Joint-Secretary Mahendra Shrestha opines that the government needs to consider increasing investment in the family planning sector which would be instrumental in reducing infant, child and maternal mortality rates in the country.

Provincial Progress in Family Planning
During the program, it was revealed that Province 3 reported a high success rate in terms of availing family planning services. The adoption of family planning devices by women was recorded at 49.2 percent.

However Province remained at the end of the scale with a recorded 37.3 percent.

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