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Sabitri Kishore, MD, Family Health Division, Nepal Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health/Department of Health Services, Family Health Division, Teku, Nepal, (977-1) 426 2155, tcic.fhd@wlink.com.np, Ganga Shakya, MD, Family Health Division, Nepal Department of Health Service, Ministry of Health/Department of Health Services, Family Health Division, Teku, Nepal, and Cherry Bird, Nepal Department of Health Services, Family Health Division, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Health/Department of Health Services, Family Health Division, Teku, Nepal.
Abortion law reform in Nepal was achieved through the efforts of a number of different stakeholders, including key individuals and organisations from both government and non-government sectors. Despite their differing roles and perspectives, with the NGOs often advocating for changes not at first endorsed by government, these agencies have been working as partners, both in achieving changes in the law, and in moving forward to implementation and establishment of systems. An abortion task force was established during the lead-in period before the new law was approved by parliament. This was chaired by the Family Health Division (FHD) of the Department of Health services, and included stakeholders from a wide range of organisations, including advocacy NGOs, private clinics and other government departments. Through the input of the four working groups formed (training, service delivery, behaviour change communication, and monitoring and evaluation) the task force worked to draft policies and strategies for the new law, and to design the required systems for implementation. After Royal approval of the new law, the task force was dissolved and re-formed as the Technical Committee for the Implementation of Comprehensive Abortion services (TCIC), still under the chairmanship of FHD and retaining the support of the four working groups. Through TCIC the government is now coordinating national efforts to establish and monitor accessible, quality services nation-wide, and to agree and disseminate appropriate messages related to the new law and ways in which women should be able to access safe services.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.