KATHMANDU, July 26

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said it reached out to the most vulnerable population in the 14 most quake-affected districts to deliver sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

The UN body said it worked in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and other partners.

According to a Humanitarian Bulletin released by the UNFPA’ yesterday, it integrated reproductive health (RH) and GBV responses focused on conducting mobile reproductive health camps, supported female-friendly spaces, delivered dignity kits, provided life-saving reproductive health supplies (RH Kits) and built the capacity of health service providers.

Three months into its earthquake response, it said many urgent needs had been met. However, UNFPA continues to work in the 14 most-affected districts supporting vulnerable women and girls.

Sufficient emergency reproductive health supplies were delivered to health care providers in 14 affected districts to cover an estimated  97,000 direct beneficiaries over a period of three months, it said. Likewise, over 55,000 dignity kits were distributed to earthquake-affected women and girls, and around 4,000 beneficiaries accessed family planning services through RH mobile camps in 12 districts.

The bulletin informed that of more than 17,500 affected persons —  70 per cent of whom were women and adolescent girls — availed of female-friendly spaces established in 13 districts through awareness raising sessions, mobile RH camps, sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services.

According to the report, 5,000 adolescent girls and women received psychological counseling and psychological first aid, and 83 mobile reproductive health camps conducted in 12 affected districts provided RH services to nearly 57,000 individuals — 80 per cent of them were women and adolescent girls.

Likewise, 24 maternity units as part of medical camp clinics were set up by World Health Organisation for seriously or partially damaged health facilities.

As many as 14 transition homes provided temporary shelter and services to pregnant women and those in post-partum stage their newborns.

Besides, health service providers trained in clinical management of rape, aimed to cover 14 districts.