New UN project to bring reproductive health outreach services to Nepal

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has announced the launch of a new project to deliver mobile reproductive health services to conflict-affected populations in Nepal.

The effort, which is being funded by the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission aims to organise reproductive health camps in six hill and mountain districts of both the far-western and the mid-western region of Nepal, serving close to 15, 000 women, men and adolescents affected by conflict, UNFPA said.

“This project is highly relevant to ensure that preventive and corrective measures for reproductive health concerns can be provided before they severely limit livelihoods,” said Junko Sazaki, UNFPA’s Representative to Nepal.

Over 80 per cent of Nepal’s population lives in rural areas, where basic health care services remain limited. For a majority of people living in rural areas, access to health care and facilities is hampered by geographical, economic and cultural barriers. In addition, the decade-long armed conflict has jeopardized the provision of basic health care services, exacerbating the lack of health workers, health facilities and medical supplies, according to the Fund.

The mobile health clinics will provide diverse health services including diagnosis, counselling, treatment and referrals of cases to the National Health System. This will serve to address potentially life-threatening concerns such as safe family planning and childbirth, emergency obstetric care, gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The camps will also provide vital surgical procedures.