National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Hopeful Signs

Despite intensification of insurgency, Nepal has made progress in population sector

By A CORRESPODENT

A decade after the conclusion of first International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Nepal has made certain progress in the areas like poverty alleviation, empowerment of women and access to reproductive health.

According to the report, Nepal has made progress in sectors like total fertility rate and population growth. UNFPA projected that Nepal’s population will be 50 million by 2050. The current population of the country is 25.7 million.

Although average population growth of the country is still higher than expected, it is improving. Nepal’s average population growth rate is 2.2 compared to 3.0 of Bhutan, 2.4 of Pakistan and 3.9 of Afghanistan. The urban population growth rate is 5.2 and total fertility rate is 4.26.

In the last few years, the total population rate has declined further and it is said to be in transition. In South Asia, Bangladesh has made tremendous improvement in the area of controlling the total fertility. Nepal, too, is planning to reduce it further.

With the intensification of Maoist insurgency, the access to health services in rural areas has been broken. And people now have to face hard times reaching health posts. In many areas, the health posts and health units have already been destroyed along with the village development committees.

Thanks to the successful immunization program, the infant mortality rate has declined helping to reduce the family size. According to report, the infant mortality rate under 5 is 91 male and 106 female per 1000 live births. Compared to other countries of South Asia, it is still the highest. Nepal’s neighboring country India has the infant mortality rate of 78 male and 90 female per 1000 births. Sri Lanka has the best case, as its infant mortality rate is 30 male and 16 female per 1000.

“Since 1994, 99 percent of the 151 developing countries surveyed have adopted measures to protect the rights of girls and women, including passing national legislation and laws on women’s rights,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA.) “We are moving forward. A global survey of 169 countries by UNFPA last year shows how countries have made the ICPD program of action part of their national development policies and strategies. In regional review meetings, they have reconfirmed their commitment to it despite pressures not to do so.”

Nepal has also incorporated many programs under the guidelines of ICPD programs of actions. Nepal has initiated the programs from amending laws to expanding and improving family planning services.

“We have seen many changes but Nepal is yet to achieve the target set by the ICPD. UNFPA is supporting Nepal to achieve target in many areas,” said Hernando Agudelo, acting representative of UNFPA.

Thanks to the increase in the use of modern contraception, one can see positive implication in the areas of population as well as intervention in the areas of HIV/AIDS control.

Nepal has already recognized the reproductive rights and integrates the reproductive health services into primary health care. It has also worked to improve facilities and training and expand family planning method choices.

Peace Corps Suspends Program in Nepal

Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez, on September 13, announced the suspension of the Peace Corps program in Nepal effective immediately.

"The Peace Corps has had a successful 42-year program in Nepal, making great strides in the areas of small business development, education, environment, youth development and working on health and HIV/AIDS education and awareness. The safety and security of the volunteer is the number one priority of the Peace Corps and in light of the current conditions in Nepal, suspension of the program is a necessary action," said Peace Corps Director Vasquez.

The Peace Corps program in Nepal began in 1962. Since then, more than 4,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in the East Asian country.

The suspension of the Peace Corps program in Nepal is going to have a negative impact on the socio-economic development of the country since they have been instrumental in helping the rural people mostly in the sectors of education and health.

The decision to suspend the Peace Corps program was taken after the senseless bomb attack by the Maoists at the American Center in Kathmandu on September 10.

At a time when Nepal is passing through great difficulties, the suspension of the Peace Corps programs and the withdrawal of Peace Corps volunteers will further aggravate the sufferings of the people, particularly the rural population.

Apart from helping in the socio-economic development of the country, the Peace Corps Volunteers had greatly promoted the people-to-people relations between the citizens of the two countries. Many PCVs after completing their assignments in Nepal had chosen to stay here for a long period of time lending their expertise to help the needy people. Equally importantly, the PCVs were effective goodwill ambassadors for Nepal because even after they returned to their native, they continued to help in the development and prosperity of Nepal in whatever way they could.