National Safe Abortion Policy 2002, Nepal.pdf

Public Health Policies, Plans and Programs of Nepal

1. Safe Abortion Policy, 2002
By Mohan Dev Singh
BPH,MPH,MPA
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2. TheMaternalMortalityandMorbidityStudyof
MoHP1998foundthat54%ofGyanecological
andobstetricadmissionswereduetounsafe
abortions
In2002,NepalimplementedaNationalSafe
AbortionPolicyaimedatreducingmaternal
mortalityandmorbidity.Thispolicywasa
significantsteptowardsensuringwomen's
reproductiverightsandimprovingoverall
publichealthinthenation.
IntroductionSafe Abortion
Policy, 2002
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3. HistoricalContext
Before2002,abortionwaslargelyillegalin
Nepal,leadingtounsafepractices.The
historicalcontextofwomen'srightsand
healthinNepalpavedthewayforthe
introductionofthispolicy,reflectingashift
towardsprogressivereproductivehealth
legislation.
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4. Theprimaryobjectivesofthe
NationalSafeAbortionPolicy,
2002includeprovidingsafeandlegal
accesstoabortionservices,reducing
maternaldeaths,and promoting
awarenessofreproductivehealth
among women andhealthcare
providers.
KeyObjectives
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5. TheMulukiAin2016(1959BS),thebasiclegal
codeforthekingdomofNepal,prohibitedabortion.
TheParliamentapprovedthe11
th
amendmentbill
totheMulukiAinon14
th
March2002andon27
th
September2002achievedactstatusafterreceiving
royalseal.ForthefirsttimeinNepal,abortionhas
beenconditionallyliberalized.
LegalFramework
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6. Thisamendmentreformedthepreviousrestrictive
abortionframework.Therevisedframeworkallows
•Fortheterminationofpregnancyupto12
weeksofgestationforanywoman,
(MedicalAbortion-upto10weeks)
•Upto18weeksofgestationifthepregnancy
resultsfromrape,and
•Anytimeduringpregnancywiththeadvice
ofamedicalfractioned-ifthelife,physicalor
mentalhealthofthemotherareatriskorifthe
foetusisdeformed
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7. Accesstosafeabortionservicesisvital.Thepolicy
mandatesthathealthcarefacilitiesprovide
comprehensiveabortioncare, including
counseling,toensurethatwomencanmake
informeddecisionsabouttheirhealth.
HealthcareAccess
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8. Toexecutesafeandaccessibleabortionservices:
•CACserviceswillbesafe,accessibleandaffordable.
•AuthorizedCACserviceprovidersperformingthese
services
•AppropriateHRHwillbeidentifiedandcompetency
basedskilltrainingwillbeconducted
•Confidentialitywillbemaintainedregardingthe
information
•CACservicewillbemadeavailablethroughprivate,
non-governmentalandsemi-governmentalsectors
•Advocacy,IECandsocialmobilizationontheprevention
ofunwantedpregnancyanddangerofunsafeabortion
shallbepromoted
sthe.
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9. ChallengesFaced
Despiteitsprogressivenature,the
implementationofthepolicyfaces
challengessuchasculturalstigma,lackof
awareness,andlimitedresourcesinrural
areas.Thesebarriershinderaccesstosafe
abortionservicesformanywomen.
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10. ImpactonWomen'sHealth
TheNationalSafeAbortionPolicyhaspositively
impactedwomen'shealthbyreducingunsafe
abortionsandmaternalmortalityrates.Increased
accesstosafeserviceshasempoweredwomento
make informedchoicesregardingtheir
reproductivehealth.
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11. Inconclusion,theNationalSafe
AbortionPolicyof2002representsa
significantadvancementinwomen's
rightsandhealthcareinNepal.Ongoing
effortsareneededtoensureits
successfulimplementationand to
promoteacultureofsafetyand
respectforwomen'schoices.
Conclusion
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12. Thanks!
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