Illegal abortion rampant in Siraha

LAHAN, Aug 29 : Fearing social stigma, most of the women in Siraha district who get pregnant from an illicit relationship have lately taken to illegally run clinics for abortion, though there are many authorized Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) centers in the district.



However, the concerned authorities have failed to take action against such unregistered clinics and to educate the residents about the risk of unsafe abortion, which may cause long-term physical damages and even claim life. [break]



According to the District Health Office (DHO), the District Hospital, Lahan Hospital and Marie Stopes International Nepal in the district have been authorized to carry out apportion through CAC, an approach to provide abortion services keeping in view a women´s individual health needs, both physical and mental.

Health workers working for safe abortion had lodged some complaints at the District Administration Office (DAO) and the DHO in the past seeking action against the illegal clinics offering abortion facilities. But the authorities have failed to act.



Bashu Dev Yadav, a proprietor of a pharmacy in Lahan said, “Though the authorities are aware of the illegal activities, it leaves me bewildered thinking why they do not take action.”



Abortion was legalized in Nepal in 2002, citing that unsafe abortion was a cause behind a high maternal mortality in the country, and abortion is now permitted at the authorized CAC centers for gestation up to 12 weeks on the request of the pregnant woman.



“But the illegally run private clinics conduct abortion even when women are three to four months pregnant and they charge up to Rs. 10,000 per case,” said a health worker at Lahan.



But the real problem, the health worker added, is that the pregnant women discreetly opt for abortion to cover up their illicit relationship.



The DHO also admits that many women prefer private clinics fearing social stigma. “Though the abortions at CAC centers are carried out for a fee of Rs. 1,200, only a few women visit the centers for abortion,” said Raj Bir Yadav, information officer at the DHO, adding, some women even visit nearby Indian towns for abortion.



He said the DHO has mobilized two teams to monitor the private pharmacies and poly clinics to contain the illegal abortion activities.

Related story

Selective abortion rampant in Siraha