In a bid to maintain steady progress in achieving the target for Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), the MoHP is preparing to launch a massive campaign to curb the trend of early marriage prevalent particularly in the rural backwaters. [break]
As per the Civil Code of 1963, girls can marry with parental consent once they reach 18. However, if they fail to gain the parental nod, they can tie the knot only after they reach 20. MoHP´s new move aims to defer the legal age of marriage by two years, even with parental permission.
"We are set to spearhead this campaign as deferment of the legal age of marriage is pretty necessary to bring down the MMR," said Dr Sudha Sharma, secretary at MoHP. "If we fail to discourage girls from marrying at an early age, we may not be able to maintain progress in achieving the MMR."
In spite of winning the prestigious MDG award at a global summit held recently in New York, Nepal still faces a host of threats to its crusade against maternal mortality, according to Dr Sharma,. "One of the biggest threats is reproductive morbidity," she said.
A majority of cases of reproductive morbidity, Dr Sharma said, are arguably caused by early marriage. "Girls, especially in the villages, still marry at an early age and become pregnant before they attain full reproductive maturity," Dr Sharma said, adding, "This often results in pregnancy complications and maternal deaths."
According to Dr Laxmi Raj Pathak, spokesperson at MoHP, the campaign for deferring the legal age of marriage for girls will consist of several programs. "We will forcefully advocate deferring the legal age," Dr Pathak said. "Besides, we will launch several programs targeted at discouraging girls from marrying early."
However, irrespective of provisions under the Civil Code, the trend of tying the nuptial knot relatively late--only after becoming financially secure--is becoming increasingly widespread in urban areas. In contrast, girls in rural areas marry well before they attain the legal age.
Taking this into consideration, MoHP is mulling several programs to discourage early marriage. "Besides, we will introduce incentive programs for girls who marry only after completing the age of 20," said Dr Pathak. "We can even offer job opportunities as an incentive."
According to a National Planning Commission report, 229 mothers die for every 100,000 live births. To achieve the MDG target by 2015, Nepal needs to reduce this to 213 deaths per 100,000 live births. The NPC, in its latest report, points out the need for effective enforcement of the provision against girls marrying before completing the legal age.
Related story
Advisory task force recommends keeping marriage age at 18
