Enhancing the ability of women to obtain comprehensive abortion care and prevent unwanted pregnancy
Ipas Nepal is providing support to MoHP and its relevant divisions and centers to increase access to Safe Abortion Services (SAS) and contraceptive care. As part of this upport, Ipas Nepal expanded the medical abortion program to six new districts –Terhathum, Sankhuwasabha, Arghakhachi, Rolpa, Mugu and Bajura and second trimester program to four new hospitals. In these districts, with focused collaboration with D(P) HO, we worked intensively to strengthen quality of safe abortion services at the health facilities and support providers to increase their ability to offer services, including contraception. To date, Ipas Nepal’s strategy of engaging with national and local level government officials on health systems and policy efforts has been fruitful. Local governments have been responsive to women’s health needs and continue to support SAS programming. To ensure youth’s access to SAS and barriers to service provision are addressed, Ipas Nepal implemented activities per the national Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) strategy and guidelines.
Dismantling abortion stigma
Ipas Nepal strives to dismantle abortion stigma and create an environment where no woman feels shame or has to remain silent when exercising their reproductive rights. In this context, Ipas Nepal is conducting intensive stigma reduction activities such as community dialogue meetings, airing radio programs, street drama, sensitizing community stakeholders, health facility operation management committees in two districts, Sunsari and Dadeldhura. The lessons learned from this initiative will help us minimize stigma in our intervention districts.