Rajbiraj, July 15:

Women here have started openly discussing sexual problems after the Community Development Centre (Pathargada) launched a sexual and reproductive health programme in three VDCs in the district.

The programme was launched with assistance from UNDP through Samjhauta Nepal in Brahmpuri, Kalyanpur and Pathargada VDCs. Locals said the number of women suffering from sexual diseases is decreasing after the programme was launched.

Chairperson of the Community Development Centre (Pathargada), Shambhu Nanda Chaudhari said pregnant women used to go in for unsafe ways of delivering their babies prior to the programme launch. This trend is now decreasing, Chaudhari said.

Now women are preferring to consult doctors if they have problem in menstruation, said Lalita Devi of Brahmhapuri. Before becoming aware, women used to transmit diseases to each by bathing in the same pond. After the programme was launched, women learnt to bathe individually at tube wells and are now relatively safe.