Madhesi, Muslim women flock free health camp in Duduwa

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Nov. 28: A large number of Madhesi and Muslim women have reached out for free treatment at a health camp organised in Duduwa Rural Municipality. 

The municipality is located near Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, which has become a hub of health care in western Nepal.

Local women eagerly attended the free women’s sexual and reproductive health camp conducted at the health post in Hirminiya, Duduwa Rural Municipality-6, which is just about seven kilometres from Nepalgunj.

A large number of women from the ward and neighbouring areas, where the Madhesi and Muslim communities are predominantly located, attended the camp to undergo health check-ups conducted by senior doctors, said Hemant Sharma, head of the health branch of Duduwa Rural Municipality.

He stated that more women reached the camp than expected and mentioned that the management struggled to manage the crowd.

Bheri Environmental Excellence Group (BEE-Group), in coordination with the rural municipality, conducted the free sexual and reproductive health camp for women. 

Sumitra Giri, the project’s communication and advocacy officer of BEE-Group, said that 357 Madhesi and Muslim women underwent health check-ups at the camp.

She mentioned that many more women attended the camp than planned after learning that senior gynaecologists would be present.

Senior gynaecologists Dr. Kalpana Thapa and Dr. Urmila Parajuli checked the women's health while consultant physician Dr. Shankar KC also examined patients at the camp.

Most of the women who attended the camp said they could not go to the city for treatment due to a lack of time, financial constraints and the stigma attached to the checkup of sexual and reproductive health. 

They said they came for check-ups after the doctors visited their village.

Senior gynaecologists Dr. Thapa and Dr. Parajuli said that the majority of women who received check-ups were found to be suffering from uterine prolapse, uterine problems, white discharge and pregnancy-related complications.

Various laboratory tests were carried out on the women who sought treatment at the camp and free medicines were distributed.

Angad Bahadur Shahi, the head of the Health Office, Banke, said that since Madhesi and Muslim women are lagging in terms of health awareness, such camps would be highly beneficial for them.

Shahida Bano, the vice-chairperson of Duduwa Rural Municipality, remarked that Madhesi and Muslim women still refrain from going to the city for treatment due to shame and other reasons.