NFPPD, UNFPA helping pregnant, lactating women victims

KATHMANDU: The National Forum for Parliamentarians on Population and Development has partnered with United Nations Population Fund to respond to the needs of the earthquake-affected women of reproductive age, including pregnant women and new mothers, in Makawanpur district.

The Constituent Assembly members’ forum, along with the UN, delivered 10 maternity tents to the District Health Office. The tents will be distributed among eight health posts at Danda Kharka, Sukaura, Dhiyal, Neguatar, Bajrabarahi, Raigaun, Tistung, and Gogane VDCs.

The parliamentarians’ forum is represented by six political parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and UCPN-Maoist.

“Health services, including delivery, will be provided from under UNFPA tents until the health institutions and birthing centres, which were damaged by the earthquake, are either repaired or reconstructed,” said Dina Mahalaxmi Upadhayay, NFPPD Chairperson and CA member from Makawanpur.

UNFPA has been distributing dignity kits and supporting reproductive health camps at several districts in collaboration with local government authorities and NGOs.

Upadhayay said that such collaboration with NFPPD was crucial to provide the much needed health services in Makawanpur in this hour of crisis. NFPPD has also been mulling ways to work with UNFPA in other most-affected districts as early as possible, said the CA member.

“Our partnership with NFPPD is based on our commitment to continue to address the special needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers, protect the dignity of women and girls during an emergency, as well as provide safe spaces to women,” said Giulia Vallese, UNFPA Representative in Nepal. With UNFPA’s support, Family Planning Association of Nepal in collaboration with the District Health Office has conducted four reproductive health camps in affected VDCs of Makawanpur, said Vallese.  UNFPA has also been supporting Centre for Victims of Torture to set up female-friendly spaces in Makawanpur.