Nepalese Civilians Get Lifesaving Health Services

Nepalese Civilians Are Given Lifesaving Health Services by UN Agency

New York, Aug 9 2006 10:00AM

Civilians in Nepal deprived of lifesaving reproductive health care during the country's decade-long civil conflict will soon have access to treatment in special camps organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with support from the European Commission.

Mobile services will be organized over the next year to reach some 15,000 women, men and adolescents camps in six hill and mountain districts of Nepal's far-western and mid-western regions, the agency announced.

Over 80 per cent of the country’s population lives in rural areas, where basic medical care is limited. The recently suspended armed conflict exacerbated the lack of health workers, facilities and supplies. This, in turn, increased the burden of the most common diseases. Maternal illnesses, which are estimated to afflict 100,000 women per year, remain mostly unattended.

“This project is essential to provide preventive and corrective measures for reproductive health concerns, which cause much death and suffering and severely limit livelihoods,” stressed Junko Sazaki, UNFPA’s Representative to Nepal.

Mobile medical teams will set up temporary facilities offering family planning, emergency obstetric care, and diagnosis, counselling and treatment of potentially life-threatening concerns such as sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence, according to UNFPA. Medical staff will also perform surgical procedures.

ENDS

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