Kathmandu, May 31

Stakeholders have expressed concern over the alarming rise in caesarean section surgeries.

At a discussion organised by the Ministry of Health and Population to collect suggestions on safe motherhood and reproductive health, the speakers stressed on government intervention to ensure transparency and accountability in institutional deliveries.

“The bill on safe motherhood and reproductive health doesn’t say anything about C-section surgeries and citizenship rights of the children born to unmarried mothers,” shared Radha Poudel, social activist, adding that rising C-section surgeries had a direct linkage with the health of women. They talked about how women who delivered babies in sheds could also be included in the bill.

Minister of State for Health and Population, Padma Kumari Aryal, said, “The government is set to present the bill in the Parliament for approval to protect the reproductive rights of women in the country. Reproductive health is the fundamental right of the people.”

The bill deals with reproductive rights of women, safe motherhood, safe abortion and sex selective abortion.