People cognizant of family planning measures but not using them widely: Survey

Kathmandu –Although the government has been providing family planning services free of cost and though many people are aware about family planning services, not many people were found to be availing this facility, a survey showed. 

In Nepal, the bill related to Reproductive Health has incorporated it within the basic health service. 
According to a survey conducted in 2016, more than 90 per cent of the people participating in the survey responded that they knew about family planning services but only 50 per cent of them were using the facility.

The survey also revealed that gross reproductive health rate among the women from 15-49 age group in the country has slashed down to 2.3. 

At a programme organized here today by the Family Health Division under the Ministry of Health and Population, it was shared that the highest usage rate of family planning devices was opted by women in Province No 3, standing at 49.2 per cent while the lowest in Province No 4 at 37.3 per cent. 

Acting Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Sushilnath Pyakurel, shared that the Bill related to Reproductive Health Right was in the phase of implementation as, he argued, the family planning service was stipulated in the constitution as the fundamental rights. 

According to the study, the 20 per cent of women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) were compelled to opt for unsafe abortion in lack of family planning services. 

Pyakurel asserted, "The government, like availing essentials drugs to the citizen, will prioritize expanding the access of family planning service to one and all.' 

He informed that the MoHP was preparing to station nurses in every school to provide reproductive health education to the students. 

Similarly, Director General of the Health Services Department Dr Gunaraj Lohani informed that family planning services will be made further effective to curb the unsafe abortion and to avail family planning services to one and all needing it. 

Likewise, MoHP Joint-Secretary Mahendra Shrestha spoke of the need for the government to consider increasing investment in the family planning sector which, he believed, would contribute in reducing the child mortality rate, infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate in the country. 
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