Number of women undergoing safe abortion increases in Darchula

Kathmandu: The number of women undergoing safe abortion has increased in the district.

Before, the women had been going to the clinics and medical centres in Indian towns across the border for availing this service. Now a growing number of women have started coming to the District Hospital for the same.
The bridge over the Mahakali river that forms the border with India is closed since March 24 after the imposition of the lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Two hundred and fifty five women have availed of this service in the district in the last fiscal year. This is big figure,” said the District Hospital’s Dr Gajendra Duwal. Before this, 216 women had undergone safe abortion at the hospital in fiscal year 2018/19.

Dr Duwal said the number of women opting to take the service from the District Hospital has increased due to the growing awareness about safe abortion unlike in the past when the women used to take over-the-counter drugs to induce the abortion.

He, however, suggested people to use contraceptives and not to opt for abortion. Data shows that use of contraceptives has decreased in the district.

Meanwhile, 498 women have availed of delivery service from the hospital in the last one year. Four hundred and ninety one women had taken this service in fiscal year 2018/19 and 578 women in fiscal year 2017/18.