However, the mother of three children was bit late and the Family Planning Association Nepal (FPAN) in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, refused to carry out the abortion.[break]
“I am quite disheartened. They say it is not legal to abort a fetus that is more than 12 weeks old,” said Dhungana.“I cannot afford to do it at private centers as they charge very high fees,” she added tearfully.
Dhungana, who has an abusive husband, washes dishes and clothes of other people to make her ends meet. She said she was not aware about the rules and conditions related to abortion. As she already has three children, she is worried that raising another one would be quite a burden on her family.
According to a senior nurse at FPAN, more than 50 percent of women are denied abortion service at the center each month as they come in the second trimester of their pregnancy. “Each month around 300 women come here for abortion during the second trimester of their pregnancy. We can´t help such women,” said a senior nurse Shipra Joshi at FPAN.
Where do such women go for abortion then? There is hardly any record of this.
No wonder, the problem is severe in remote areas due to lack of proper service centers as well as of awareness among women. According to Nepal Population and Health Survey 2011, only 38 percent of Nepali women know that abortion is legal in the country and can be done for a minimum charge.
“That is the reason why we still see the cases of unsuccessful abortion, such as inserting stick to kill baby, though it is quite rare,” said Lina Maharjan, head nurse at Maternity hospital in Thapathali, Kathmandu. Eight months ago, she had handled a case of a woman who had tried to kill her baby using bamboo stick.
Women rights activists and organization including Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) are concerned that a large number of women in the country can´t make use of their reproductive rights due to lack of awareness and service centers.
“In villages, people are not aware that abortion is legal. Their problem is further compounded by the fact that proper abortion service centers are mainly based in cities and towns. By the time a woman reaches hospital for abortion, it is more likely that she has already crossed the legal aborting period,” said Meera Dhungana of Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD).
In a landmark decision in a case involving a rural woman Laxmi Dikta, who could not afford abortion service due to lack of money, the Supreme Court in 2009 had ordered the government to ensure that abortion services are accessible and affordable to anyone seeking it.
However, a lot needs to be done for this to happen.
Nancy Northup, president and CEO of Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), which has been working to pressure governments for policy reforms in over 50 countries including Nepal, said Nepal needs to be more focused and proactive in order to safeguard reproductive rights of women who belong to very weak socio-economic conditions.
“Firstly, women should be made aware of their rights. Then, abortion should be absolutely free and available for needy women, which is also the verdict of the Supreme Court. Or else, even if they are given reproductive rights, they will not be in a condition to exercise it,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ambika Prasad Neupane, information officer at family planning and health division, asserts that providing abortion service for free of cost might not be sustainable in the long run. “Lack of awareness is a big issue which needs to be addressed. As for charges, we fear making the service absolutely free of cost might not be sustainable. The matter is under discussion though,” he said.
Related story
#Sexploration Episode 7 Reproductive Health, Education and R...
