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.

Also Read:

• HR Key for Nepal’s Community-Level Progress

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A report released by Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey (NNMSS) on August 29,2018 indicates a negative trend in the early growth of children between the age groups of 6 and 59 months.

This has a high chance of stunting children’s growth and makes them vulnerable to diseases such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

Dr. Santosh Manandhar, paediatrician at Kanti Children’s Hospital says breastfeeding up to a certain age is a must for children’s overall growth.

“A child experiences a deficiency of micronutrients such as zinc if they are not fed proper nutritional diets such as mother’s milk. The chances of stunting, hypogonadism and poor immunity in a child are high due to such deficiency.”

Health experts identify unhealthy diet and lifestyle as responsible for the deficiency of micronutrients. However, figures suggest that people with access to healthy diet and lifestyle also suffer micronutrient deficiency.

Drinking water, sanitation and provision of quality food are essential to fight the deficiency of micronutrients. Hence, experts urge authorities to pay attention to these areas.

Following are the detailed findings of the report:

• In the age-group of 6-59 months, 28 percent children living in the mountains were identified with zinc deficiency. Followed by 23 percent in the hills and 18 percent in the Terai region
• Helicobacter Pylori is found in Nepali children and women. 20 percent of the children between 6 to 59 months and 40 percent of non-expectant women between 15-49 years have H Pylori infection. This can cause ulcer and even stomach cancer
• There is a lack of iron among children between 6 to 59 months. 19 percent had anemia, 28 percent had iron deficiency and 11 percent are suffering with iron deficiency anemia
• Anemia was highly visible in expectant women between 15-49 years compared to non-expectant women

The government will use this report as reference to implement various nutrition plans across the country.

“The health of children and women should not be ignored at any cost. The NNMSS report will be of great help in making further plans and policies,” said Surendra Kumar Yadav, State Minister, Ministry of Health and Population.

What do Experts Say?
“Minimizing the deficiency of micronutrients is only possible with multi-sectoral approach. The government should have a holistic approach to dealing with problems in corresponding sectors like sanitation, water, and livestock,” said Dr Sushil Nath Pyakurel, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Health and Population.

“Nepalis have easy access to food items rich in micronutrients because of our diverse and rich agricultural produce in all the geographic regions. Yet, people fail to eat regularly these quality foods due to the lack of awareness of the food and ways to prevent malnutrition,” said Dr. RP Bichha, Director, Nepal Family Health Division.

Conclusion:
We hope that Nepal’s Health Sector is able to tackle this scenario with help from nutritionists, scientists and parents of these children.

The post Micronutrients Deficiency Threatens Nepal Infants appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Thanks to the program! over two million Nepali women have access to medical services in this developing nation, where dying in childbirth majorly threatens its population.

According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), child birth is the main cause of Nepal women’s death during the reproduction age which is higher than any other South Asian country except Afghanistan.

Factors that Hinder Proper Health Care in Nepal!
The primary factor that triggers this alarming scenario is ‘Nepal’s geography’, which makes it difficult to reach a health facility in time. Additionally, the scarcity of clinics in the region makes most people rely on the comfort of their home for child birth.

We found that one of the main reasons rural women did not go to a hospital during childbirth was because they did not have hard cash to pay for transportation, says Suresh Tiwari, one of the architects of Aama Surakshya.

Transport is not the only facility that this program offers. Aama Surakshya takes care of medical costs incurred around child birth for both mothers and their babies including a cash bonus for attending monthly pregnancy checkups.

The free service and transport incentive have been very effective in bringing women to health centers and hospitals where they can be saved in the case of complications.

–Tara Nath Pokhrel, Nepal Family Health Division (FHD) Head.

Other than dealing with geographical barriers, the association is at constant battle with cultural practices and patriarchal ideologies.

Age-old practices and choosing home deliveries over hospital child births deflect people from making costly expenditures, especially poor families. Still another disadvantage is unequipped hospital staff.

Some women still don’t have the decision-making power to say they want to go to a hospital, and health posts like ours are not equipped enough, said Niliza Shakya, Doctor at Ramechhap Health Centre

People Who Have Benefited
Meera Nepali who received Aama Surakshya aid recalls how gruesome her first delivery experience was and thanks the program’s support during her second delivery.

Sita Khatri gave birth to a healthy baby boy at home. However, over a period of time she had to suffer the consequences; a retained placenta and a fatal complication of childbirth in the future.

Eventually, Khatri was taken to a nearby clinic for treatment and was given Rs 1000 for transportation.

According to official figures, in 2017 a majority of Nepali women chose to undergo hospital births over home deliveries creating a first-time record thanks to the program’s initiative.

Aama Surakshya was started in 2005 with British monetary support but has been taken over by Nepal Government.

Also Read: Global Health Issues: 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey Highlights

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