BAJURA: Women in rural Bajura are compelled to give birth to multiple children, even as they age, in lack of awareness on health and family planning issues.

Kalasari Budha, 43, of Kot in Himali Rural Municipality-1, gave birth to 12 children by the time she reached 40 years.

Budha, who got married at the age of 16, gave birth to her first child when she was 18. She delivered her 12th child when she was 40. She has spent the majority of her life giving birth to and raising children.

She is mother to seven daughters and five sons. Despite being pregnant numerous times, Budha has not delivered even one child in a health facility. Instead, she gave birth to her children at home and while working in the jungle.

Budha shared, it takes one whole day to reach the closest health post in Deusain, which too is not an easy journey. Due to this, she had to give birth to all her children at home or while at work. Her youngest, a son, is now three years old.

Likewise, Budha has never carried out even one health check-up doing her numerous pregnancies. She said she did not adopt any kind of family planning measure after getting married. "I had no idea that such measures were available. No health worker ever came to the village to impart such knowledge to us."

She shared that she gave birth to so many children in lack of awareness and that she had to face various challenges while bringing them up. The mother of 12 had to suffer from anaemia, malnutrition and general weakness during the years of being pregnant and delivering children.

"I couldn't take rest after delivering my babies. There were many children and I had to work even after giving birth."

Deputy Chair of Himali Rural Municipality, Chandra Kala Budha, said that women in many villages of the rural municipality continue giving birth to children even as they grow older.

Like Kalasari Budha, there are many other women in rural Bajura who give birth to numerous children for many years at a stretch. Spreading awareness on family planning would play a key role in helping these women reduce the number of pregnancies to protect their health and well-being.

(Translated by: Priyanka Adhikari)