Women’s reproductive health is the key to happiness of the family as well as the society. If the women suffer from serious health problems, this will have negative consequences for their family members and other aspects of national life. Realising this fact, the successive governments and donors have put emphasis on the sound reproductive and sexual health of women in Nepal. As a result, the country has also made a significant progress in reducing the maternal and infant mortality rates. However, majority women in the rural areas still undergo multitude of health problems.
Uterus prolapse is one such painful health issue that has been tormenting both young and adult women in Nepal. Uterus prolapse is a severe health condition in which the muscles and supporting ligaments that hold the uterus in place become too weak to keep this vital organ. This causes the uterus to drop out of the vagina in the extreme stage. Factors such as improper birth delivery, heavy physical works during and soon after the pregnancy, giving birth to many children and lack of contraceptives lead to the uterus prolapse. Medical researches show that symptoms of uterus prolapse usually develop in post-menopausal women in most countries but in Nepal it occurs to women in their prime reproductive stage largely owing to the gender discrimination, poverty and ignorance.

According to the news report of this daily, many adolescent girls in Dang district in west Nepal have been diagnosed with the uterine prolapse at a health camp recently. One girl, who gave birth to her first child at 14 and became a mother of four children at the age of 18, has uterus prolapse and wants to undergo surgery to free from the painful situation. This is the story of many young mothers who are afraid of sharing their problem with friends or medical workers for the women with this illness is looked down in the society. Shyness, illiteracy and cultural taboos force them to silently suffer from the ailment that can be treated with affordable medical service. Women with the uterus prolapse face physical, emotional and social problems. They feel ashamed to stand in front of other people because of the odious discharge. Likewise, they have difficulty in standing, walking, sitting or lifting goods. These distressed mothers are happy after doctors assured that they would be able to lead a healthy life following the surgery of the uterus prolapse. The concerned Rural Municipality has also committed financial support to them.

Nepal’s constitution has stipulated health as the fundamental rights of its citizens. The people have the rights to get basic health services from the state and no Nepali should lose his/her life in the absence of the essential health amenities. In a similar manner, the national charter has stated that every woman shall have the right to safe motherhood and reproductive health. Despite the positive provision of the constitution, many Nepalis have been unable to get the health services provided by the state and the government. This requires that the government agencies need to properly utilise the budget allocated to the health services. Policies, related Acts and regulations must be implemented to ensure the health rights of the people.