KATHMANDU, MAY 01
The Director General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, is in Kathmandu this week for high-level meetings with Government Ministers and country representatives of WHO, United Nations Population Fund & UNAIDS. Sonal Mehta, Regional Director of IPPF's South Asia Region (SARO), joins him.
In Nepal, Dr Bermejo, and Mehta along with Dr. Naresh Pratap KC, Executive Director and Himalaye Lal Kasajoo, President of IPPF's Member Association, Family Planning Association of Nepal will meet with PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal on May 2nd in his office. Together, they will discuss how Nepal can play a leading role in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights by closing existing gaps between policy and practice.
"We want to discuss the costs and benefits of expanding sexual and reproductive health services in Nepal through the country's development cooperation, especially in modern contraceptive use. The Family Planning Association of Nepal has been a long-standing member of IPPF and together we want to ensure zero unmet needs for family planning by supporting women, adolescents, and diverse communities in realising their sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR)", said Dr Alvaro.
During the week, Dr. Bermejo and Mehta will also visit IPPF's Member Association, the Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN)'s health facilities, and clinics in Koshi and Bagmati provinces. FPAN delivered 3.72 million critical and lifesaving SRH services in 2022. Owing to FPAN's services, 2.45 lakh women are using modern methods of contraception averting over 90,000 unintended pregnancies in 2022.
"Since 2002, the legalisation of abortion in Nepal has seen significant progress in the expansion of safe abortion and family planning services. However, both domestic and international investments on sexual and reproductive health and family planning services are seeing an incremental decline. We are looking forward to meeting with development partners, the government and community members in Nepal to discuss innovative models of sustainability and increasing the budgetary allocation for SRH and FP services in the country", said Sonal Mehta, Regional Director, IPPF South Asia Regional Office.
Dr Bermejo and Sonal Mehta met representatives of diverse, marginalized groups from FPAN's networks including sex workers, people living with HIV (PLHIV), LGBTI+ / sexual minorities, people who inject drugs (PWID), GBV survivors, disabled, vulnerable young people, women, and young girls. They discussed and understood the challenges faced by each group in accessing SRH services and rights. The community members demanded greater accountability and increased awareness and engagement. Both, Dr Bermejo, and MSonal Mehta promised that IPPF was committed to transform under its new strategy with larger representation and increased focus on meeting the specific SRHR needs of diverse communities.
The share of the national health budget allocated to sexual and reproductive health within the national health budget of Nepal is less than one percent. The unmet need for contraception in the country is still over 23% and the adoption of modern methods of contraception is still wanting with almost 50% of unsafe abortions despite progressive policy reforms. The declining fertility rate also requires attention." said Dr Naresh Pratap KC, Executive Director, Family Planning Association of Nepal.
"We are grateful to our Member Associations like FPAN for helping us deliver more services and support at a time when inequalities are deepening, placing the lives of millions, particularly women and girls, at risk. IPPF will continue to stand alongside FPAN in their efforts to reach those most underserved and excluded with high-quality person-centred sexual and reproductive healthcare" shared Dr Alvaro Bermejo.
In 2021, IPPF delivered 231.4 million sexual and reproductive health services and contributed to 121 policy and legal changes in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
About Family Planning Association of Nepal
Established in 1959, the Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) is Nepal's first national family planning service delivery and advocacy organization. It is a major collaborator of the Government of Nepal's national sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program, contributing a greater percentage of all SRH services in Nepal annually. FPAN serves Nepalese people in 44 districts, focusing on the poor, marginalized, socially excluded, and underserved (PMSEU) populations, which include female sex workers, people living with HIV (PLHIV), LGBTIQ people, injecting drug users, men who have sex with men (MSM), migrant workers, people with disabilities (PWD), survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), urban slum dweller and people affected by disaster and crisis.
About International Planned Parenthood Federation
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. IPPF is a worldwide Federation of national organizations working with and for communities and individuals in more than 145 countries.
IPPF South Asia Regional Office (SARO) is one of the six regional networks of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The staff at SARO is based in New Delhi, India. In the region, IPPF works in eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka through the Member Associations (MA) -- IPPF accredited organizations-- and collaborative partners.
