Even reputed doctors here are involved in carrying out illegal abortions and in some cases hospital peons too are involved putting the lives of the women at grave risk.
Each day, more than 100 women in Dhanusha, Mohattari, Siraha, Saptari, Sarlahi and Sindhuli districts terminate their pregnancies, according to Nepal Family Planning Association in Dhanusha.
The Association has so far performed abortions on 321 women by charging a fee of Rs 1,000 per person.
Dr Deependra Kumar Yadav, who received a seven-day training on abortion at the Association at Itahari says a lot of women go for unsafe abortions due to social reasons.
These women, many of them unmarried, do not approach certified health institutions or doctors, fearing social stigma as pregnancies among unmarried women is regarded unacceptable in mostly conservative society. Even married women undergoing abortions are looked down upon in such society as “sinners”.
Along with Dr Yadav, Dr Ramnaresh Pandit, Dr Rani Jha and Dr Deependra Gohiwar are licensed abortionists in Janakpur but more than 50 others are performing abortions illegally.
In Dhanusha, many of the women coming for abortions have husbands working in overseas jobs. At present more than 800,000 men from Dhanusha are working overseas, according to figures. Interestingly, of the 321 women who terminated their pregnancies 135 have their husbands abroad for many years.
Although abortion services are available at certified health institutions at around Rs 1,000, many women pay as much as Rs 10,000 and terminate their pregnancies in secret.
Rambahadur Karki, the manager of the Family Planning Association of Dhanusha, says only married women visit certified health institutions for carrying out abortions.
But those who carry out illegal abortions are doing well in the market.
Says, Dr Rameshnath Pandit, a certified abortionist in Janakpur: “Many clinics and nursing homes are running solely because they perform abortions.”
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