Unsafe abortion cases on the rise in Bajura

BAJURA: Cases of illegal and unsafe abortion have been on the rise in Bajura district lately.

Currently, a woman is on the verge of death after taking pills from a local ayurvedic medicine shop, Masta Mahadev Ayurved, to end her pregnancy.

The 32-year-old Dhauli Luwar of Kordha in Badi Malika-7 has been hospitalised at the Bajura District Hospital on Thursday after her health started deteriorating.

Luwar, a week ago, had taken Mifepristone 200mg and Misoprostal 200mg to terminate her pregnancy without any medical consultation.

She suffered a heavy bleeding shortly after, but was hospitalised only two days later.

The Hospital Chief Dr Mohan Nath informed that she had low hemoglobin (Hb) level of 3.5 g/dL; and, with the lack of donors, she is fighting for her life. A pregnant woman must have an Hb level of 8 or above.

The Hospital has stated that the both the medicines are banned for use.

Luwar’s husband, Janak, stated that he was unaware about the medications being illegally sold at the local Hospital.

The ayurvedic shop operator Mohan Bahadur Dhami also said he was unaware about the ban.

Though illegal, the medicines are brought from India via Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj and other far-western cities.

Chief District Officer Bhoj Raj Shrestha said he is unaware of the situation.

Till date, no any authority has made proper inspection regarding the matter and the medicines are being sold rampantly.

As per the government rules, a medical professional with proper training must be consulted for abortion. A woman can only abort the foetus within 12 weeks of conception, that too in consideration of the woman’s mental and physical health.