Stakeholders call for expanded access and awareness of safe abortion services

Dhangadhi: Stakeholders have stressed the need to make safe abortion services more accessible, effective and widely available, along with increasing public awareness.

Speaking at an interaction program on ‘Implementation of Safe Abortion Services Law and Current Status’ organized by Health Live Media in Dhangadhi on Friday, participants highlighted the importance of expanding access to safe abortion services to the local level.

Sudurpaschim Province Chief Advocate Thekendra Raj Joshi said unsafe abortions should be discouraged and services must be provided only through licensed health institutions. He emphasized bringing those involved in unsafe practices under the law and raising widespread public awareness about safe services.

Kailali District Court Judge Bhuwan Singh Thapa said effective dissemination of information on legal provisions related to abortion is necessary, adding that services should be accessible, free of charge and delivered by experts. He also noted that some provisions in the existing law require reconsideration.

Kailali Chief District Officer Hiralal Regmi said monitoring remains difficult due to a lack of timely information about places where unsafe abortions are carried out, stressing the need for clear procedures and coordinated action.

Chief Superintendent of Police at District Police Office Kailali Narendra Chand pointed to legal complications in cases involving abortions of girls under 18 and highlighted the need for necessary legal reforms.

Presenting a working paper on the current status of safe abortion services in Sudurpaschim Province, Ramesh Malasi, Public Health Administrator at the Ministry of Social Development, said around 862,000 women become pregnant annually in the province, with about 52 percent being unwanted pregnancies and 66 percent ending in abortion. He added that only 52 percent of those undergoing abortions use safe services, while unsafe practices remain significant.

He further informed that as of mid-June of the current fiscal year, 14,734 women have accessed abortion services in the province, including 673 under the age of 20. He noted that safe abortion services have contributed significantly to reducing maternal mortality and are currently available through 394 public and 10 private health institutions.

Advocate Renu Pradhan Shrestha presented a working paper on challenges in implementing abortion laws and issues of criminalization, while Dr. Jagadish Bista, senior gynecologist at Geta Hospital, presented on legal provisions and the current status of services.

According to Nepali law, abortion is permitted up to 12 weeks with the woman’s consent through licensed health institutions and providers. It is allowed up to 18 weeks in cases of rape or incest, and up to 28 weeks in special circumstances with the consent of the pregnant woman.

The program was chaired by Arjun Adhikari, Editor of Health Live Media, and facilitated by Shyam Lamsal.