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Global
Gag rule threatens lives of Nepali women
Media
report source:via IPPF website 19 July 2001
Extract translated
from a study into the impact of the Nepalese abortion law on the health
and status of women in Nepal (Nepalma Garbhapatan Sambandhi Kanoonle Mahilako
Swasthya Tatha Samajik Awasthama Pareko Prabhav) carried out by the Centre
for Research on Environmental Health and Population Activities.
Nepal Family Planning
Provider to Testify Before Congress
On Thursday, July
19, 2001, Dr. Nirmal K. Bista, director general of the Family Planning
Association of Nepal, will testify with other family planning and human
rights experts before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee
on how the global gag rule has threatened the lives of poor women
in his country. FPAN has received assistance from the United States since
1973; loss of this assistance jeopardizes the existence of three family
planning clinics in Nepal's most densely-populated areas.
The global gag
rule, imposed by President George W. Bush on his first official day in
office, restricts non-governmental organizations in other countries receiving
U.S. international family planning assistance from using their own money
to provide abortion services, counselling or referrals, or to lobby to
change abortion laws.
Nepal has the fourth
highest maternal mortality rate in the world and it is estimated that 50%
of these women die from unsafe abortion.
Although abortion
is illegal under any circumstances, officials at the Nepalese Ministry
of Health have concluded that legalizing abortion should be the first step
towards reducing maternal mortality. Groups like FPAN that receive U.S.
assistance are forced to choose between the long-term health of their country,
and the immediate health needs of thousands.
FPAN and the Planned
Parenthood Federation of America are both members of the International
Planned Parenthood Federation. Dr. Bista will be accompanied by Dr. Med
Bouzidi, assistant director-general of the International Planned Parenthood
Federation, which has lost $8 million in U.S. assistance, as a result of
President Bush's policy. This assistance provided support to community
health organizations around the world.
The Family Planning
Association of Nepal has made the difficult decision to refuse USAID family
planning funds because of the restrictions it places on them.
It will lead to
the loss of nearly $250,000 of US funds and will seriously jeopardize the
continued operation of three reproductive health clinics in some of the
country's most densely populated areas. It brings to an end a continuous
relationship with USAID that has lasted for 26 years.
"If we were to
accept the restricted US funds I would be prevented from speaking in my
own country to my own government about a health care crisis I know firsthand,"
said Dr Bista.
"The ministry's
advocacy plan to decriminalize abortion calls for the formation of a network
of non-governmental organizations. Yet the US government would disqualify
us from participating in this public awareness and lobbying campaign or
give up badly needed funding for family planning and other reproductive
health services," added Dr Bista.
"My own government
wants FPAN to help decriminalize abortion and make it safer but the US
government says no. Advocate to save women's lives and you lose your US
funds".
It is estimated
that six women die every day in Nepal due to unsafe abortion performed
by unskilled providers. Is there any justification for stalling even one
more day?
An example of how
the abortion law is affecting women
Mandira was the
mother of five daughters. In the hope of having a son, her husband forced
her to become pregnant again. Though she wanted to, he would not permit
her to accept family planning. Her last child was only one year old, and
she did not feel capable of giving birth to yet another child. So, with
the assistance of a Sudeni [traditional abortionist], she aborted the foetus.
The substance used for the abortion caused profuse bleeding. She became
very sick, developed a temperature of 103 degrees and was admitted to hospital.
Out of fear, she did not disclose that she was bleeding or that she had
had an abortion. Later, when it was too late, her bleeding was discovered
and shortly after she died of gangrene, caused by the abortive substance.
The maternity ward of the hospital had to be closed for 48 hours for fumigation.
For more information
about President Bush's policy see IPPF's website: www.ippf.org/bush/index.htm
For the situation
in Nepal, see Real Lives 3 & 5, the journal of the South Asia Region:
www.ippf.org/regions/sar/rl
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