Hundreds of Nepali women dying from preventable causes every year : Census report lists heavy bleeding and hypertension as top reasons for maternal deaths, by Arjun Poudel (kp 27/03/2023)

Free ambulance service in pregnancy case (kh 23/03/2023)

Decriminalise abortion: Rights activists, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht 19/03/2023)

Pregnant woman dies due to excessive bleeding in Bajura, by Sher Bahadur Sarki (rn 10/03/2023)

Call for better surveillance amid rising maternal deaths : More than 90 maternal deaths have been reported across the country in seven months, by Arjun Poudel (kp 28/02/2023), Dying mothers : Finding why mothers die should be the focus, followed by efforts to prevent the recurrence of these deaths (kp 01/03/2023)

Thousands of women skip routine maternity services : Around 140,000 Nepali women give birth at home, around 210,000 do not make postnatal visits and 45,000 don’t receive antenatal care, report says, by Arjun Poudel (kp 22/02/2023) [see report by Ministry of Health and Population]

Achham women deprived of treatment as cases of uterine prolapse rise : Women suffering from uterine prolapse due to multiple pregnancies and poor care depend on health camps but the district hasn’t seen one in the past four years, by Menuka Dhungana (kp) 19/02/2023), Rural women’s woes : One-off health camps are unlikely to bring lasting solutions to systemic neglect of women’s wellbeing (kp 21/02/2023)

Ten new mothers died in four years in Bajura (ht 10/02/2023)

Post-menopause healthcare : As the population continues to age, support for middle-aged women has become crucial, by Dushala Adhikari (kp 30/01/2023)

Medics being probed after alive baby pronounced dead : On Wednesday morning, a doctor and two assistant health workers at the emergency ward of the Koshi Hospital had wrongly declared an 18-day-old infant dead, by Binod Bhandari (kp 20/01/2023)

Health workers visit new mothers, pregnant women at doorsteps with services : The programme kicked off on January 3 and aims to cover the nooks and crannies of one of the largest local units in the country in terms of area coverage, by Birendra KC (kp 16/01/2023)

45 women died during childbirth in six months, in hint of falling deaths : As the number of maternal deaths is low compared to the past, the Health Ministry has not started finding the causes of deaths. Officials cite problems with the reporting system, by Arjun Poudel (kp 14/01/2023)

Kanti Hospital adds intensive care units, sets up kangaroo mother care beds : Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022 shows neonatal death rate hasn’t declined in the past five years, by Arjun Poudel (kp 22/12/2022)

Specialist services for pregnant women begins at Kolti Primary Health Centre : Women with obstetric issues in nine local units of Bajura, Humla, Kalikot and Jumla will benefit from the service, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp 21/12/2022)

Sexploration season 2 Episode 1:Sex and porn education for young generation, by Samiksha Shrestha (rep 18/12/2022)

Baby born on way to hospital (ht 16/12/2022)

Chepang women have qualms over reproductive health checkup (kh 13/12/2022)

NDHS 2022 shows improvement in maternal and child health (kh 10/12/2022), No improvement in neonatal mortality rate in the past six years : Nepal Demographic and Health Survey shows mixed results, but experts say meeting Sustainable Development Goals still a challenge, by Arjun Poudel (kp 10/12/2022)

Hospital conducts 36 uterus surgeries by adding financial support, by Nabin Shishir (rn 10/12/2022)

Increase in number of safe abortions in Kailali, by Chandani Acharya (rn 10/12/2022)

Reproductive health rights legal clinic set up (kh 09/12/2022)

Screening of newborn birth defects to be carried out at 27 hospitals : The Health Ministry says 21 babies born in every 1,000 die within one month of birth in Nepal. The country has to reduce neonatal deaths to 12 by 2030 to meet its SDG target, by Arjun Poudel (kp 08/11/2022)

Woman dies due to delivery-related complication (rn 01/11/2022)

Access to family planning tools reaches among 53 percent citizens (kh 21/09/2022), 53 percent citizens in Karnali have access to family planning tools (rep 21/09/2022)

Infant, maternal deaths still high in Salyan : Forgoing regular tests during pregnancy and delays in hospitalising pregnant women contribute to mortality, by Biplob Maharjan (kp 18/09/2022)

Misuse of abortion pills among reasons for high maternal deaths in Nepal : Maternity Hospital is training auxiliary nurse midwives and staff nurses about the proper use of abortion pills, by Arjun Poudel (kp 15/09/2022)

Despite preventive efforts, maternal deaths still high : Thirty-two women died in two months, government records show. Excessive bleeding after childbirth is a major cause, say health workers, by Arjun Poudel (kp 04/09/2022)

Video X-ray service at village eases pregnant women (kh 31/08/2022)

New mothers below the poverty line from 25 districts to get Rs 5,000 : Government has allocated Rs800 million to address nutrition deficiency among new mothers and children, by Arjun Paudel (kp 24/08/2022)

Air rescue saving lives of pregnant women and newborn in rural areas : In the last fiscal year, 12 pregnant women were rescued and brought to Kathmandu from Dhading for safe delivery, by Sarita Shrestha (kp 24/08/2022)

Nepal opens its first-ever human milk bank at Paropakar Maternity Hospital (nlt 19/08/2022)

“Sexual and reproductive health issues should be everyone’s concern”:  Tushar Niroula, Executive Director, Sunaulo Parivar Nepal : “Due to the taboo nature of sexual and reproductive health, anyone seeking out services from any SRH clinic may be perceived as being sexually promiscuous or about to get an abortion”, interview with Tushkar Niroula (nlt 14/08/2022)

Karnali has more than national average breastfeeding (kh 09/08/2022)

Mind the legal gap : Nepal needs a robust law to institutionalise and regulate assisted reproductive technology, by Sobita Gautam (kp 07/08/2022)

Human breast milk bank set up at Paropakar Maternity Hospital : The first-of-its-kind milk bank is crucial to saving babies born early, health workers say, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp 02/08/2022)

Ensuring Women’s Right To Health, by Jivesh Jha (rn 29/07/2022)

Achham’s pregnant woman airlifted to Surkhet for treatment (kh 23/07/2022)

Government to ensure community nursing services at each ward : It aims to increase people's access to maternity and neonatal health and geriatric services (ht 01/07/2022)

Abortion debate:  When faced with life and choice what should you choose? ‘Pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’ labels don’t reflect the complexity of the issue. Instead of keeping ourselves to a certain level, the real-life decisions of people should be respected, by Ruchi Dhital (nlt 30/06/2022)

Nepal struggles with a high adolescent fertility rate (kh 25/06/2022)

The right to bodily autonomy : Abortion has been legal in Nepal since 2002 but there could be fallout from any overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States., by Ameesha Rayamajhi (rec 07/06/2022)

Experts for awareness drives as free screening alone doesn’t lessen cervical cancer cases : The government has decided to provide free screening for cervical cancer at all state-run health facilities, by Arjun Poudel (kp 27/05/2022)

Residents of Khotang depend on helicopters to reach hospitals : Pregnant women suffer the most from a lack of good hospitals and roads in Khotang, by Dambar Singh Rai (kp 22/05/2022)

Producing and recruiting midwives a must for reducing maternal mortality in Nepal, interview with Dr Mingmar G Sherpa, former director general of Health Department (kp 21/05/2022)

Maternal health gap : Nepal continues to experience an imbalance in the distribution of healthcare professionals (kp 17/05/2022)

Pregnant women in Achham die for want of treatment : Rural women are deprived of safe motherhood services due to illiteracy, poverty and lack of public health awareness, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 16/05/2022)

Antenatal care visits to be doubled to reduce maternal deaths, stillbirths : Pregnant women have to visit health facilities at least eight times for antenatal care, every 15 days, after 36 weeks. More than 1,600 nurses are hired to provide postnatal care at home, by Arjun Poudel (kp 15/05/2022)

Young unmarried girls often face prejudice and negligence at the gynaecologists’ : Experiences show many doctors offend young patients by asking questions disregarding their privacy and agency, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp 08/05/2022)

Caesarean section delivery service to be expanded to all 77 districts : It is estimated that close to 15 percent of pregnant women suffer serious complications during childbirth, by Arjun Poudel (kp 08/05/2022)

Contrary to their wishes, rural women in Salyan compelled to give birth at home : Lack of motorable roads makes birthing centres inaccessible to pregnant women while birthing centres closer home lack skilled health staff, by Biplab Maharjan (kp 25/04/2022)

Planning a baby? Start taking folic acid three months before conception : If taken on time by women, folic acid can prevent possible birth defects, doctors say, by Arjun Poudel (kp 18/04/2022)

Righting reproductive rights : Each one of us needs to be educated and respectful of women’s rights to their bodies (kp 01/04/2022)

Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, says new UNFPA report : "In 2017, it was estimated that half of the 1.2 million pregnancies in Nepal were unintended and nearly 359,000 ended in abortion.” (nlt 30/03/2022), Nearly half of the pregnancies in Nepal are unintended, UN agency says : A half of the 1.2 million pregnancies in the country were unintended and nearly 359,000 ended in abortion in 2017, by Arjun Poudel (kp 31/03/2022)

Nepal looks to donors to widen maternal, perinatal deaths surveillance : At least 99 maternal deaths recorded in current fiscal year, but officials say many deaths in 45 districts are unknown, by Arjun Poudel (kp 30/03/2022)

Deprivation, hunger and infant deaths in a remote Bajura village : Mothers in Muktikot suffer from lactation insufficiency for lack of nutritious food and lose their babies either in the womb, at birth or at neonatal and postneonatal stages, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp 27/03/2022), 84 kids in Muktikot suffering from malnutrition (ht 27/03/2022)

Another baby’s life is saved in rural Nepal : Dedicated birthing attendants are at the frontlines, conducting safe deliveries under difficult circumstances, by Naresh Newar (nt 19/03/2022)

Death of pregnant woman sparks tension (ht 05/03/2022)

Understanding Cervical Cancer, by Suman Raj Tamrakar (rn 28/02/2022)

Uterus prolapse still a taboo for many Bajura women (ht 26/02/2022)

Health workers concerned over high maternal mortality rate in Banke : Teenage pregnancies and a lack of regular health checkups, nutritious food and awareness among family members are the leading causes behind the high maternal mortality rate in Banke, health workers say, by Rupa Gahatraj (kp 14/02/2022)

Indirect causes fuelling maternal deaths in pandemic : 84 women died during childbirth in six months. Doctors blame infections caused by lack of timely treatment for many deaths, by Arjun Poudel (kp 10/02/2022)

Down Syndrome: An Understanding through Prenatal Screening Tests, by Sandeep Thapa (rep 11/01/2022)

304 women rescued under President Woman Upliftment Programme in four years, by Mahima Devkota (rn 10/01/2022)

How the cost-sharing model to tackle neonatal and childhood disability in Province 1 works, by Rishav Sapkota (nlt 10/01/2022)

Why it is important to ensure menstrual health in workplaces : Not addressing menstrual health will have consequences. It is an unimaginable loss if a girl has to quit school or a woman has to quit employment because of inadequate WASH facilities in workplaces, by Jyotika Rimal (nlt 06/01/2022)

Kangaroo Care Helps Preterm Babies To Survive, by Mahima Devkota (rn 03/01/2022)

COVID-19 Taking Toll On Sexual And Reproductive Health In Country (rn 26/12/2021)

Menstrual health is everybody’s business Menstrual education in Nepal is woefully inadequate and, at times, actively harmful, posing risks to health while reinforcing existing stereotypes and stigmas, by Nishi Rungta (rec 14/12/2021)

“Safe abortion in Nepal is still not at satisfactory level”, interview with Popular Gentle, Country Director of Ipas Nepal on the state of safe abortion in Nepal, and how a multitude of barriers keep Nepali women from getting safe abortion (nlt 13/12/2021)

Female Sterilisation Fourfold Higher Than Males, by Mahima Devkota (rep 23/11/2021)

Int’l Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) pledges to support FPAN (kh 17/11/2021)

Over 40 percent of pregnant women in Bagmati Province opt for home deliveryHealth Directorate Hetauda says the majority of unsafe deliveries take place in Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok and Ramechhap districts. In Kathmandu district, 28 percent women still opt for unsafe deliveries at home, officials say, by Pratap Bista (kp 05/11/2021)

‘There is a highly unmet need for safe and effective non-hormonal contraception’, interview with Bhawana Bhatta (rec 01/11/2021)

246 pregnant, post-partum women rescued till now (ht 24/10/2021)

Major health institutions in Palpa fail to run Safe Motherhood Programme : Budget issued by the federal government for the programme is not sufficient to cover all expenses, hospitals say, by Madhab Aryal (kp 13/10/2021)

Take Measures To Prevent Unsafe Abortion, by Prabin Shakya (rn 09/10/2021)

Pregnant women in rural Achham still dying for want of timely medical care : Lack of health awareness, poverty, geographical remoteness and non-cooperation of family lead most women to go for home births despite risks, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 09/10/2021)

Nepal’s ‘missing girls’ : For every 106 boys born in Nepal, there are only 100 girls because of sex-selective abortion, by Anita Bhetwal (nt 08/10/2021) [see CREHPA report of September 2021]

Maternal mortality rate being studied for the first time in Nepal (rep 07/10/2021)

Men in Lumbini reluctant to adopt permanent family planning measures : Of the 1,724 people who opted for permanent family planning measures in Lumbini last year, only 235 were men, by Amrita Anmol (kp 06/10/2021)

FPAN’s sexual and reproductive health services project meets targets (kh 05/10/2021)

Pregnant women are at high risk from Covid-19 but are no priority for vaccine : Of 354 maternal deaths reported after March, 2020, at least 44 were due to coronavirus, by Arjun Poudel (kp 04/10/2021)

Government policies fail to reduce infant mortality rate in Palpa : The number of infant deaths has increased across the district in last four years despite several programmes implemented at the local and district levels to save mothers and babies. For every 100,000 births, 229 women die during or after childbirth in Nepal, data show, by Madhab Aryal (kp 27/09/2021)

Bagmati Province Holds Highest Number Of Temporary Contraceptive Users, by Mahima Devkota (rn 01/09/2021)

Nepal agrees to decriminalise abortion (ht 07/08/2021)

56 birthing centres set up in four years (kh 05/08/2021)

Pandemic affects breastfeeding, newborn nutrition : As authorities failed to inform people that infected mothers can breastfeed, health experts say hundreds of babies have been deprived of breast milk, by Arjun Poudel (kp 04/08/2021)

Births at hospital increasing in Lamjung, thanks to awareness campaign (kh 25/07/2021)

Reproductive rights : Regardless of the pandemic and resulting lockdown, women and girls have the right to access reproductive health services (15/07/2021)

FPAN organizes reproductive health camp in flood-hit Sindhupalchok (kh 15/07/2021)

Reproductive rights of women, young people must be protected, says UNFPA (ht 14/07/2021)

Preserving women’s bodily autonomy : The disruption of family planning services is a  profound cost that will be borne by entire countries, by Natalia Kanem (kp 02/07/2021)

Expecting mothers who need Caesarean delivery are at risk in flood-ravaged Helambu : Government has a helicopter rescue programme to prevent maternal deaths,  but health workers say the process is caught up in red tape, by Arjun Poudel (kp 23/06/2021)

Nepal CRS Company launches “Meri Sangini” mobile application (kh 14/06/2021)

Amid focus on Covid-19, pregnant women at risk of not getting care : More maternal deaths reported of late, as women avoid hospitals fearing infections. If infected, pregnant women and new mothers have higher risk of dying, experts say, by Arjun Poudel (kp 19/05/2021)

Investment in midwives stressed to reduce maternal mortality (ht 05/05/2021), New report sounds alarm on shortage of midwives (ht 06/05/2021)

Ultrasound service in rural Kalikot a relief to local women : Khandachakra Municipality invested Rs500,000 for the operation of an ultrasound machine in Dahan Health Post, the first in the area to provide the service, by Tularam Pandey (kp 08/04/2021)

Pregnant women in rural areas are risking their lives with home births : Home deliveries are still a popular option in the rural areas of Baglung due to a lack of awareness among the local population, health officials say, by Prakash Baral (kp 25/03/2021)

“What can be more fulfilling than saving lives?” : Social entrepreneur fulfils promise to his mother to improve maternal care in rural Nepal, by Naresh Newar (nt 19/03/2021) [including video]

87 pregnant, postpartum women rescued (ht 14/03/2021)

11 countries, including Nepal, spearhead global efforts to prevent, treat birth defects (ht 03/03/2021)

Emergency maternity service at Bajura's Primary Health Centre comes to a halt (ht 03/03/2021)

Decriminalisation of abortion in Nepal: Tabooed yet crucial debate, by Bandana Upreti and Samana Kafle (ht 02/03/2021)

New mother dies in lack of timely treatment (rep 28/02/2021)

Ensure safer births : Expand road networks to increase access to hospitals (kp 26/02/2021)

Maternity services ineffective in Karnali Province : Lack of awareness and geographical remoteness lead women to deliver their babies at home instead of visiting health facilities, health workers say, by Chhapal Lama, Biplab Mahrjan and Chandani Kathayat (kp 25/02/2021)

20 Per Cent Among Women Undergoing Safe Abortion In Karnali Are Girls Under 18 (rn 22/02/2021)

Nepal’s air ambulance saves mothers : Helicopter emergency service is a lifeline for women in remote areas with birthing complications (nt 05/02/2021)

Poverty and lack of awareness and access forcing many to resort to unsafe abortion : Even 19 years after legalisation, women’s struggle for safe abortion continues. As a result, they put their health at risk and are unable to exercise their rights, experts say, by Samiksha Baral (kp 24/01/2021), Lifeline for womenResearch shows that restricting access to abortion services doesn’t work (kp 25/01/2021)

Free ultrasound service at local health post fulfils Kailali village women’s wish, by Tekendra Deuba (ht 02/01/2021)

New rules for right to safe motherhood (ht 21/12/2020)

Lack of pandemic contingency plan has led to rise in maternal deaths, experts say : More than 17 women have been dying every month due to birth related complications since March, by Arjun Poudel (kp 06/12/2020)

Addressing Rights To Safe Abortion, by Shyam P Lohani (rn 06/12/2020)

In their wait for son, Baitadi women keep delivering babies : The reproductive health of the majority of women in the district is poor, with many  suffering from anaemia, uterine prolapse and other issues, health workers say. The pressure to bear a son compromises women’s mental health, officials say, by Tripti Shahi (kp 26/11/2020), No country for girl child : The perceived importance of having a son continues to exert manifold pressure on women (kp 27/11/2020)

Delay in hospital visits putting mothers and newborns at risk in Rupandeh : iHome births have picked up in some parts of the district during the Covid-19 pandemic, by Sanju Paudel (kp 22/11/2020)

Safe maternity services reach rural settlements of Baglung : In the last two years, birthing centres have been established in all six wards of Tamankhola Rural Municipality in the district, by Prakash Baral (kp 18/11/2020)

Maternal Health Takes A Knock, by Sampada Anuranjanee Khatiwada (rn 05/11/2020)

Pregnant women and postpartum mothers hit hardest by pandemic : Seven women died of delivery complications in Banke within two months, by Thakur Singh Tharu (kp 22/09/2020)

For safe abortion practices, by Tula Krishna Gupta (ht 17/09/2020)

Bajura’s new mothers die young. Failure to give birth to a baby boy often results in second marriage, by Nanda Kumari Thapa (rep 13/09/2020)

Reproductive health gains at risk as pregnant women die due to lack of care : Maternal mortality had gone down by 76 percent and stillbirths by 56 percent in Nepal since 2000, but the Covid-19 pandemic is eroding the achievements, by Aditi Aryal (kp 11/09/2020)

Free COVID-19 insurance to pregnant and new mothers (rep 10/09/2020)

73 pregnant women die for lack of treatment since lockdown (kh 06/09/2020)

Pregnant woman dies after being denied admission by Biratnagar hospitals, by Chuman Basnet (rep 05/09/2020)

Poverty Reduction Through Family Planning, by Balaram Chaulagain (rn 23/08/2020)

‘Provide proper treatment to ailing pregnant woman’ (ht 21/08/2020)

123 pregnant and postnatal women of remote areas airlifted during lockdown: Who gets the airlifting service? How to get it?, by Sabina Karki (kh 15/08/2020)

Covid-19 taking away Nepal’s achievement in maternal health: Report says 13,189 women delivered babies at hospital prior to the lockdown while the number decreased to 7,165 after the outbreak (kp 13/08/2020), Institutional childbirth reduced by more than half during lockdown in Nepal: Study (rep 13/08/2020) [see article by Ashish KC et al. in Lancet]

The pandemic is intensifying postpartum depression: With restrictions on movement, families cannot travel to extend support, and new mothers fear infection if they go for check-ups, by Elisha Shrestha (kp 05/08/2020)

New mothers who survived landslides in Myagdi deprived of nutritious food: While the authorities have paid heed to waste management and controlling infectious disease, nutritious food for nursing mothers has to be managed locally, say authorities, by Ghanashyam Khadka (kp 04/08/2020)

Committee Concerned About Implementation Status Of Safe Motherhood Rights (rn 26/07/2020), Motherhood rights stressed (ht 27/07/2020)

More Nepalis are delivering babies at home due to fear of Covid-19: Health officials are worried that this might increase deaths among mothers and their newborns, by Arjun Poudel (kp 25/06/2020)

Contraceptive use down across country, by Sabitri Dhakal (ht 24/06/2020)

Antenatal check-ups during pregnancy a must, say doctors (ht 23/06/2020)

Supreme Court orders government to take special care of pregnant women: Justices say the right to safe motherhood is a right guaranteed by the constitution (kp 10/06/2020) [The fact that a court order is required speaks volumes about the competence of the government. Orders from the courts do not interest the government anyway!], Birth pangs: We can't afford to ignore the rights of pregnant women and newborns (kp 11/06/2020)

Couples locked down together are likely to have more sex, but contraception is difficult to come by: The lockdown has disrupted access to contraception, especially in rural areas, where there are still taboos against contraceptive use, and premarital sex, by Elisha Shrestha and Samiksha Baral (kp 28/05/2020)

‘Maintain sexual and reproductive health services during pandemic’, by Sangeeta Mishra (ht 28/05/2020)

A 200 percent increase in maternal mortality since the lockdown began: At least 24 women have died of birth-related complications in the last two months, compared to 80 deaths in all of last year, by Arjun Poudel (kp 27/05/2020)

3 Nepali mothers still die daily at childbirth: But maternal deaths are too routine to deserve the kind of coverage COVID-19 gets, by Marty Logan (nt 22/05/2020)

Husband of newborn mother who died of Covid-19 says they had to wait for seven hours to get an ambulance: There have been several complaints about ambulance drivers refusing service during the lockdown, by Anup Ojha (kp 19/05/2020)

As Covid-19 continues to weaken the health system, an estimated 4,000 children could die in Nepal in the next six months, UN agency warns: UNICEF says it fears that without urgent action, the number of children dying before their fifth birthdays is going to increase for the first time in decades (kp 14/05/2020)

Expecting mother expelled from operation theatre (ht 01/05/2020)

Fewer women are visiting health facilities for maternal services during lockdown: Family Welfare Division to start a hotline to provide suggestions for pregnant women, by Arjun Poudel (kp 28/04/2020)

Like most vulnerable groups, soon-to-be and new mothers face an uncertain near future: With hospitals and public transportation shut, expecting and new mothers can’t go for regular check-ups for themselves and their children, by Elisha Shrestha & Thomas Heaton (kp 22/04/2020)

Dhading Hospital excels in deliveries (ht 10/04/2020)

Helicopter rescue programme for pregnant women effective in Gandaki Province: Out of the 14 women rescued in the past two years, 13 have been successfully treated, by Pratiksha Kafle (kp 11/03/2020)

Bagmati to launch maternal and child health care programme in remote areas: The Ministry of Social Development said the programme will be launched in 14 wards of seven districts, by Subash Bidari (kp 29/02/2020)

No conceivable reason for unwanted pregnancies, by Rojita Adhikari (nt 21/02/2020)

Miracle drug to reduce maternal deaths: Why is this cheap and easy way to reduce maternal mortality so underutilised in Nepal?, by Buddha Basnyat (nt 21/02/2020)

Health Ministry plans to carry out a study on cesarean birth trend: Country’s c-section delivery rate is more than double the WHO recommendation, b y Arjun Poudel (kp 19/02/2020)

Tension at Rangeli Hospital continues into second day (ht 19/02/2020)

Despite robust legal provisions, pregnant women still find it difficult to get maternity leave: The law mandates a total of 98 days of maternity leave, with 60 days fully paid, but most private employers fail to comply and women are hesitant to ask, by Elisha Shrestha (kp 13/02/2020), Maternity leave: Women are discriminated against in the workplace (kp 14/02/2020)

Ajirkot Rural Municipality runs nutritious food programme for new mothers: Under the Maitiko Poshilo Kosheli Karyakram, women will receive a package consisting of a crate of eggs, one kg legumes, a nail cutter, soaps and a carry bag worth Rs 4,500 to 5,000, by Hariram Uprety (kp 08/02/2020)

Who will save Nepal’s poor new mothers? … a government plan, or God?, by Rojita Adhikari (nt 31/01/2020)

Empower local health institutes: Instead of airlifting childbearing women from remote districts, the government should think of strengthening local health system which can save a myriad of pregnant and postpartum women, by Mukesh Adhikari (rep 27/01/2020)

Sexual, reproductive health awareness campaign under way (ht 24/01/2020)

Around 40 percent of pregnant women undergo unsafe delivery in Jajarkot: Although the government has been running the Safe Motherhood Programme as part of its bid to ensure safe births in remote areas, only a few people are getting benefits from the programme, by Bhim Bahadur Singh (kp 12/01/2020)

Siraha hospital denies postpartum mothers safe motherhood incentives: Ram Kumar Uma Prasad Memorial Hospital has not received the budget for Safe Motherhood Programme in the current fiscal year from the provincial government, by Bharat Jarghamagar (kp 08/01/2020)

Nepali women more vulnerable to UTI, by Sabitri Dhakal (ht 05/01/2020)

Unsafe abortion continues unabated (ht 05/01/2020)

Nepal still has a long way to go to lower infant and maternal deaths: According to the Department of Health Services, 2,036 newborn babies and 208 mothers died in the fiscal year 2018-19, by Arjun Poudel (kp 02/01/2019)

Traditional massage is based on ancestral wisdom—and science: The traditional oil care for new mothers and their babies has become more significant with medical professionals backing the practice, by Srizu Bajracharya (kp 02/01/2020)

Clinical protocol on reproductive health updated (ht 28/12/2019)

In Achham, nineteen percent of women give birth before 20: Despite many campaigns and efforts, child marriage is still rampant in the district, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 26/12/2019)

Safe motherhood campaigns save lives in Sindhupalchok: Local units such as Melamchi, Helambu and Indrawati have been providing Rs3,000 for pregnant women on top of the regular support of Rs3,000, by Anish Tiwari (kp 23/12/2019)

Seven central hospitals to be made mother-and-baby-friendly: The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative was launched in 1991 by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund, by Arjun Poudel  (kp 23/12/2019)

Break the silence on miscarriages and infertility: Society must find a way to be more open about these subjects, and the stigmatisation must end, (kp 20/12/2019)

Child mortality rate is still alarming in Palpa: Nine infants died within 28 days of birth while the total death of children under five years was 12 in the first three months of the current fiscal year, by Madhab Aryal (kp 19/12/2019)

Antenatal care visits to be doubled to prevent maternal death, stillbirths: Pregnant women will have to visit health facilities at least eight times for antenatal care and four times for postnatal care, according to the new guidelines, by Arjun Poudel (kp17/12/2019)

Miscarriages are common but women continue to suffer in silence: After having to go through a traumatic experience, the stigma surrounding miscarriages leads women to emotional isolation and mental health problems, doctors say, by Elisha Shrestha (kp 16/12/2019)

Sexual and reproductive health camp for teenagers in Achham (ht 12/12/2019)

Uterine prolapse is common in rural Chitwan, but only a few seek treatment: Many women in rural belts do not take the symptoms of uterus prolapse seriously, say health workers, by Pramita Dhakal (kp 09/12/2019)

Need to prevent perinatal HIV transmission (ht 07/12/2019)

e community health volunteers: unsung heroes shouldering huge responsibilities with minimal return: Nepal's improvement in health indicators is largely credited to the thousands of these health volunteers who have been working untiringly for the last 31 years, by Arjun Poudel (kp 06/12/2019)

Need of skilled midwives stressed (ht 04/12/2019)

Deploying midwives to prevent deaths: Training midwives for home visit care is fundamental to reducing maternal deaths, by Mukesh Adhikari (kp 01/12/2019)

Health Ministry to provide hormonal tablets through volunteers to new mothers to prevent postpartum haemorrhage-related deaths: Nepal reduced the maternal mortality rate from 539 in 1996 to 239 in 2016, by Arjun Poudel (kp 29/11/2019)

Women in rural Nepal still ashamed of reproductive health issues, health workers say: Most of these women are suffering from diseases related to uterus and many of them have physical injuries from domestic abuse meted out to them, by Durgalal KC (kp 27/11/2019)

Helicopter rescue the only chance of survival for pregnant women in remote areas of Karnali: There are 274 birthing centres across villages in the province, yet the plight of pregnent women and new mothers remains pitiable. Only this fiscal year, 40 women have been airlifted, by Chandana Khatayat (kp 24/11/2019), The government must prioritise equitable healthcare access over emergency airlifts: Ensuring safe motherhood and appropriate health facilities during and after pregnancy is the prerogative of the government (kp 25/11/2019)

A mothers’ group in Baitadi is helping young mothers take care of themselves and their babies: Health-related awareness programmes conducted by mothers’ groups have become a boon for women, by Tripti Shahi (kp 18/11/2019)

Bajura sees growth in access to safe abortion services, by Krishna Oli (rep 17/11/2019)

‘More Nepali women using contraceptives’ (ht 15/11/2019)

Taking periods as normal for better reproductive health, by Cilla Khatry (15/11/2019)

'Unsafe Motherhood' alarms women visiting health centers, by Krishna Oli (rep 12/11/2019)

Woman dies after delivering baby (ht 03/11/2019)

Maternity service shut down at district hospital (ht 02/11/2019)

Tension grips Birat Nursing Home (ht 02/11/2019)

New mothers in Adanchuli Rural Municipality deprived of state-announced incentives for two years: Under the government’s ‘Safe Motherhood Programme’, new mothers and their newborns are provided free medical treatment, transportation allowance and cash incentives for antenatal checkups, by Chhapal Lama (kp 27/10/2019)

Infant deaths high in Far-west (htr 23/10/2019)

Health Ministry to distribute misoprostol to prevent postpartum haemorrhage: Authorities hope to reduce the existing maternal mortality rate by distributing medicine through female community health volunteers, by Arjun Poudel (kp 22/10/2019)

Neonatal mortality in Nepal can be reduced: Study (rep 22/10/2019)

High court summons Sah, husband with their child (ht 21/10/2019)

The social stigma attached to infertility: Couples who are unsuccessful in having a child are prevented from participating in a meaningful life, by Roshee Lamichhane (kp 20/10/2019)

Bajura woman gives birth on her way to hospital for delivery (ht 20/10/2019)

A private hospital’s negligence has an infant on the verge of death: A string of errors and oversights by doctors at Grande International Hospital has destroyed a 15-month-old child beyond repair, his parents allege, by Swarup Acharya (kp 19/10/2019)

Nepal has made progress in reducing child mortality rate, but inequality persists: Children’s risk of dying before their fifth birthday varies nearly three-fold, a new study suggests, by Arjun Poudel (kp 18/10/2019)

Hospitals are implanting hormonal birth control on mentally impaired women: Rights activists say that such implants are a violation of women’s rights and legal provisions and do not address the core problem of violence against women, by Arjun Poudel (kpn 17/10/2019)

Health Ministry to monitor hospitals to curb sex-selective abortions: Newborn data of the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital shows a wide gap between the number of boys and girls, by Arjun Poudel (kp 15/10/2019)

Rapti Municipality providing Rs 2,000 as ‘encouragement allowance’ to pregnant women: Women who deliver babies in government-run health facilities inside the municipality will receive the encouragement allowance, by Pramita Dhakal (kp 26/09/2019)

Over 30 hospitals across the country halt cesarean delivery services: Women in labour pain forced to go to big cities, at times putting their and babies lives at risk, by Arjun Poudel (kp 22/09/2019), Women are suffering due to a lack of doctors at district hospitals: The entire healthcare sector suffers from staff and funding shortages—and the slow implementation of federalism (kp 23/09/2019)

Use of modern contraception methods witnesses no increase, by Sabitri Dhakal (ht 19/09/2019)

Doctors warn dengue-infected pregnant women against self-medication: While the virus could cause still and premature birth, doctors say self-medication could be equally dangerous, by Arjun Poudel (kp 18/09/2019)

Non-surgical method to remove uterine fibroids (ht 14/09/2019)

Newborn declared dead comes back to life (ht 14/09/2019)

More women using contraceptive in Bajura (ht 08/09/2019)

Youths in Rolpa resorting to unsafe abortion instead of using contraceptives: According to the research of 2014 done by Guttmacher Institute in Nepal, out of the total maternal deaths in Nepal, seven percent death is caused by unsafe abortion, by Dinesh Subedi (rep 08/09/2019)

Health Ministry seeks Rs 230 million to distribute fortified flour in flood-hit Province 2: The programme is expected to benefit 300,000 children under two years of age, pregnant women and new mothers, by Arjun Poudel (kp 03/09/2019)

Programme for new mothers benefits many in Bajhang: Chhabis Pathibhera Rural Municipality has distributed nutritious foods to 56 new mothers in the current fiscal year, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp 03/09/2019)

Education on motherhood improving women’s health, by Himnath Devkota (rep 02/09/2019)

265 new mothers deprived of parturition allowance (ht 28/08/2019)

'Make regulations to ensure reproductive health rights', by Sabitri Dhakal (ht 27/08/2019)

Government to include human papillomavirus vaccine in the regular immunisation list: Doctors say HPV-caused cervical cancer is the number one killer of women in Nepal, by Arjun Poudel (kp 27/08/2019)

Drive to reduce home births in eastern rural districts receives mixed results: The award-winning Yaku Health Post is noted in the district for its exemplary service, with its provision of skilled manpower, infrastructure, and a quick, hands-on service, by Alisha Shrestha (kp 12/08/2019)

Mother's milk is best: Optimal breastfeeding is a cornerstone for improved health and national development, by Manisha Shrestha (kp 07/08/2019)

Cesarean delivery halted in several hospitals of remote districts: The civil staff adjustment process has led to the transfer of anesthetic assistants who are crucial to C-section deliveries, by Arjun Poudel (kp 06/08/2019)

Prolapsed uterus among young mothers common in Rolpa, by Dinesh Subedi (rep 04/08/2019)

Lack of facilities increases risk for pregnant mothers in remote Humla and Kalikot: Maternity homes are ill equipped to deal with maternity-related complications, say health authority, by Chhapal Lama and Tularam Pandey (kp 03/08/2019)

‘Labor rooms’ set up in Dhading villages for safe motherhood, by Sarita Shrestha (rep 03/08/2019)

Breastfeeding is not easy for working mothers in Capital: A study shows 57 percent of new mothers in Valley start feeding formula milk to babies within three days of birth, by Arjun Poudel (kp 02/08/2019)

Maternity and newborn care services affected in Baglung: Pregnant women in rural areas have been referred to district headquarters due to shortage of employees, by Prakash Baral (kp 01/08/2019)

More women undergoing ovarian cyst surgery (ht 01/08/2019)

More than 50,000 children to be deprived of fortified flour in Karnali: The province’s Health Directorate says the tender to procure the nutrient-enriched flour was cancelled after the product’s samples were found to be substandard; With the end of  the last [2018-19] fiscal year, the budget for the programme is also frozen, by Arjun Poudel (kp 30/07/2019)

SC moved for establishing breast milk banks in Nepal (ht 27/07/2019)

How government bureaucracy killed a new mother: Goma Osti needed an airlift from Nuwakot to Kathmandu after postpartum complications. But a labyrinthine bureaucracy delayed her treatment by four hours—and took her life, by Arjun Poudel (kp 26/07/2019), Locals call off protest after agreement with deceased mother’s relatives: Hospital agrees to provide Rs 150,000 for the care of newborn and to bear the cost of helicopter used to fly Osti to Kathmandu for treatment, by Krishna Thapa (kp 27/07/2019), Death of a new mother forces government to rethink its rescue programme for critical pregnant women: A woman in Nuwakot died last week from postpartum haemorrhage after she was denied an airlift to Kathmandu for treatment, by Arjun Poudel (kp 28/07/2019)

Implant service providers take contraception to Nepal’s poor: If women can't come to contraceptives, then contraceptives go to women in Nepal's underserved villages, by Rokita Adhikari (nt 26/07/2019)

Free-of-cost condoms gathering dust at government health posts, by Ramesh Khatiwada (rep 24/07/2019)

Women unable to enjoy reproductive health rights due to lack of regulations (ht 23/07/2019)

Selective abortion rampant in Siraha, by Mithilesh Yadav (rep 23/07/2019)

Family planning awareness campaign (ht 16/07/2019)

Women in Baitadi village happy with improved health, sanitation, by Bira Gadal (ht 14/07/2019), Baitadi women await health camps to seek treatment for reproductive health-related ailments: Women hesitate to open up about ailments even after living with such diseases for years, by Tripti Shahi (kp 16/07/2019)

More women visiting health camps in Bajura (ht 04/07/2019)

Doctors take exception to new law that allows late-term abortions in special cases: A new provision allows abortions in cases of rape,incest or danger to health at up to 28 weeks, by Arjun Poudel (kp 03/07/2019)

Nepal made good strides in reducing maternal mortality rate over two decades—and then hit a plateau: Experts say addressing barriers to health services is the key to achieving  the 2030 target of bringing the rate down to 70 per 100,000 live births, by Arjun Poudel (kp 30/06/2019)

New mothers deprived of state-announced incentive: Lives of many women and their newborns at risk: Health workers, by Chhapal Lama (kp 30/06/2019)

Children suffer severe malnutrition in Solukhumbu villages: Pregnant women, lactating mothers and children below two years deprived of nutritious flour for months, by Arjun Poudel (kp 30/06/2019)

Women in remote areas lack access to health services: Cases of urinary tract infection, uterine prolapse, sexually transmitted diseases and other reproductive health issues are prevalent in remote parts of Baitadi, by Tripti Shahi (kp 27/06/2019), Women in rural areas deprived of pregnancy allowance, by Krishna Oli (rep 27/06/2019)

Local governments in Sindhuli running safe motherhood campaigns: Cash incentives, ambulance service and medical discount to pregnant women, by Sujata Lama (kp 23/06/2019)

Drive to encourage child deliveriy in health facilities gains momentum, by Tripti Shahi (kp 23/06/2019)

Breastfeeding centre set up at district office for nursing mothersThe DAO in Sindhuli sets precedence for other government and private offices, by Sujata Lama (kp 20/06/2019)

Khotang gets its 4th birthing center (rep 18/06/2019)

Uterine prolapse: Nothing to be ashamed of, by Martina Gautam (ht 14/06/2019)

Women giving birth at home in villages of Pokhara metropolis (ht 06/06/2019)

Scarcity of beds at neonatal ICU puts newborns at risk, by Sabitri Dhakal (ht 03/06/2019)

With no easy access to health centres, women in remote districts of Province 5 are opting for home births: Around 41 percent pregnant women in the province still give birth at home, according to the National Demographic Health Survey-2016, by Amrita Anmol (kp 31/05/2019)

With abortion pills easily available, men are refusing to use condom: Maternity Hospital in Thapathali reports 50 cases monthly of complications resulting from the use of abortion pills, by Arjun Poudel (kp 27/05/2019), Playing it safe: Public must be informed of the dangers of multiple abortions (kp 28/05/2019)

Caesarean section births increasing at alarming rate (ht 25/05/2019), Caesarean delivery is safe and reliable: But this service is only available in 5.1 percent of the public health  institutions, which has compelled pregnant women to go to private hospitals, by Bal Krishna Shah (kp 26/05/2019)

Men in Humla adopting family planning methods, by Chhapal Lama (kp 22/05/2019)

Awareness on safe abortion organised (ht 22/05/2019), 'Unsafe abortion rampant in Khotang', by Daman Rai (rep 22/05/2019)

Expecting mothers face problems due to lack of birthing centre (kp 20/05/2019)

Women deprived of maternity allowance in Kailali district, by Nirmala Khadayat (kp 15/05/2019)

Country lacks prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, by Anita Shrestha (ht 09/05/2019)

Unsafe abortion puts women’s lives at risk in Ilam, by Biplav Bhattarai (kp 07/05/2019)

Nepal in need of professional midwives (ht 04/05/2019)

Ministry demands Rs600m to continue safe motherhood drive: Lack of fund could jeopardise the positive strides made in reducing maternal mortality rate, officials say, by Arjun Poudel (kp 01/05/2019)

Birgunj woman gives birth to quadruplets, by Ritesh Tripathi (rep 25/04/2019)

Eliminate unsafe abortion: In Nepal, abortion is legal and provided free of cost in government health centres, by Bal Krishna Shah (kp 23/04/2019)

Maternal mortality remains high in Nepal: UNFPA report (rep 17/04/2019)

Reproductive health rights still a far cry: UNFPA (ht 16/04/2019)

Early motherhood takes a toll on women and babies' health, by Lokendra Khanal (rep 10/04/2019)

Sudur Paschim province airlifts pregnant woman needing emergency care, by Krishna Oli (rep 02/04/2019)

Health Ministry deputes trained nurses in  villages across country for postnatal care: Officials say the move will help reduce postnatal deaths and provide care to new mothers (kp 28/03/2019)

Caesarean delivery rate alarmingly high, but officials say they can’t control it: In some private hospitals, 95 percent of births are reported to be through C-section, by Arjun Poudel (kp 24/03/2019), A costly choice: Caesrean rates are alarmingly high in the country, but this trend needs to be undone (kp 25/03/2019)

Pregnant and new mothers deprived of government-announced incentives: Safe Motherhood Programme is reeling under severe financial crunch, officials say, by Arjun Paudel (kp 20/03/2019)

Poor, ethnic groups and Muslims use least family planning measures: FWD (rep 19/03/2019)

After death of a dozen mothers, Yamphudin finally gets a birthing center (rep 17/03/2019)

Seti Hospital demands surgery equipment, gets CD-4 counting machine instead: Women seeking institutional delivery services at the hospital deprived of incentives for months, by Arjun Poudel (kp 13/03/2019)

Doti women deprived of maternity grant, by Mohan Shahi (kp 11/03/2019)

Jorayal launches campaign to end maternal and infant deaths (kp 11/03/2019)

Misconception on long-term birth control among men in Doti, by Mohan Shahi (kp 07/03/2019)

Bank accounts for daughters born at birthing centers (rep 02/03/2019)

Safe motherhood program: Lack of budget deprives mothers of maternity allowance, by Bira Gadal (rep 26/02/2019)

Hundreds of Rajbiraj residents suffer from uterus and stone related problems (kp 25/02/2019)

Elected reps meet pregnant women to address their problems, by DB Budha (rep 23/02/2019)

Talk about it: Education on sexual reproductive health needs further attention and investment in Nepal, by Dev Raj Acharya (kp 17/02/2019)

54-year-old woman gives birth to twins (ht 12/02/2019)

Maternal mortality reduction target hard to meet for Nepal: Officials, by Arjun Poudel (kp 10/02/2019)

Reproductive health issues still a taboo subject among women in Achham, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 08/02/2019)

Bir Hospital gynaecology unit rarely sees patients: Kathmandu Metropolitan City is now responsible for running the unit, by Arjun Poudel (kp 04/02/2019)

Health ministry airlifts 16 pregnant women in three years (ht 04/02/2019)

New mothers deprived of allowance (ht 03/02/2019)

Call for accelerated efforts to reduce maternal, newborn mortality (ht 22/01/2019)

Women still unable to enjoy reproductive health rights (ht 16/01/2019)

Lack of docs hits parturition services (ht 09/01/2019)

Cold worsens menses woes in far-west (ht 09/01/2019)

Menopause guide: In Nepal we do not have government or private initiatives to discuss about health issues of women after menopause, by Aruna Uprety (rep 08/01/2019)

New mothers deprived of maternity allowance in Bajura (ht 06/01/2019)

Local unit in Makwanpur develops app for safe motherhood, by Pratap Bista (kp 02/01/2018)

Rolpa hospital stops delivery discount, by Dinesh Subedi (rep 02/01/2019), Interim order for RAHS not to implement the new service charge, by Devendra Basnet (rep 05/02/2019)

Sex workers more vulnerable to reproductive health problems: Officials say finding out if sex workers are carrying STDs is difficult because they are hesitant to visit  health facilities to get tested, by Nayak Paudel (kp 26/12/2018)

Between shame and safety: Destigmatising abortion warrants its own approach and attention (kp 26/12/2018)

Budget crunch affects safe motherhood program at Tikapur Hospital, by Yogesh Rawal (rep 25/12/2018)

Preventing PPD: Post-partum depression is a real disease as much as diabetes, hypertension or cancer. Just because it isn’t a tangible form of illness doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist Nepal, by Ushma Rebel (rep 25/12/2018)

Women still unable to enjoy reproductive health rights (ht 22/12/2018)

Procedure for emergency help to pregnant, lactating women developed (ht 14/12/2018)

Free health camp to benefit women struggling with uterine prolapse (rep 10/12/2018)

Safe abortion makes life easier for rural girls, women, by Krishna Oli (kp 09/12/2018)

Mangalsen birthing centre lacks skilled workers and facilities, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 05/12/2018)

Baitadi sees drop  in mother-child mortality rate: The allowance provided by the government to all maternity service seekers is one of the reasons behind the increase in number of pregnant women visiting health posts, say health workers (kp 22/11/2018)

Kangaroo care, breastfeeding suggested to save preterm babies: WHO categorises such births as extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28-32 weeks) and moderate  to late preterm (32-37 weeks), by Nayak Paudel (kp 18/11/2018)

Implant use increases by 400pc in 10 years: In Nepal, only 20pc women report that they were provided with information about FP (ht 18/11/2018)

Teen pregnancy high in Karnali, by Karishma Chaudhary (kp 11/11/2018)

Cervical cancer common among rural women in Sindhupalchok (rep 31/10/2018)

More couples facing infertility opting for in vitro fertilisation service: 15 per cent of married couples are facing infertility problems in the country (ht 30/10/2018)

Makwanpur: 18pc women abort babies last fiscal, by Pratap Bista (kp 28/10/2018)

UNFPA calls for prioritising access to quality reproductive healthcare (ht 24/10/2018)

Workplaces still lack lactation rooms (ht 22/10/2018)

No law on altruistic surrogacy despite Supreme Court directive, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht 15/10/2018)

Sex-selective abortion continues unabated (ht 14/10/2018)

Unsafe abortion rife in rural areas (ht 28/09/2018)

Few people use family planning services: Survey (kp 19/09/2018)

Not only women’s business: Men need to take equal responsibility in family planning and contraceptive use, by Devika Rai (kp 17/09/2018)

Pregnant women, new mothers facing hard time at BPKIHS (ht 09/09/2018)

Baitadi women still deliver babies at home (ht 01/09/2018)

Bill bars divorce on grounds of reproductive health (ht 26/08/2018)

Rural women hesitant to discuss uterine prolpase with male health workers, by Bira Gadal (rep 16/08/2018)

Govt to open centres for nursing mothers, by Nayak Paudel (kp 02/08/2018)

Abortion less of a 'stigma' for women in Dadeldhura, by Pushkar Bhandari (rep 01/08/2018)

Back to the nipple in Nepal: More Nepali mothers now exclusively breastfeeding babies for better health, by Sonia Awale (nt 27/07/2018)

31% of women deliver babies before reaching 20 years, by Kisan Sangit Nepali (rep 25/07/2018)

Breastfeeding for Infant Welfare, by Hira Bahadur Thapa (rn 20/07/2018)

Free bus rides driving safer births for women (ht 18/07/2018)

Women in Accham unable to breastfeed their children due to busy schedule, by Khamma Khatri (rep 11/07/2018)

Youths risking life by misusing pills that prevent pregnancies, by Ujjwal Satyal (ht 11/07/2018)

Not guilty as charged: Abortion is legal in Nepal but its lack of awareness incarcerates women (kp 06/07/2018)

Uterine prolapse rampant in Karnali, by DB Budha (rep 26/06/2018)

Sex education for children: Adolescents’ sexual health knowledge and understanding is influenced by a variety of factors. Sex education should include all these factors, by Dev Raj Acharya (rep 25/06/2018)

Women still prefer delivering babies at home, by Mukti Prasad Nyaupane (rep 18/06/2018)

Air ambulance plan evokes pessimism: Health Ministry official says cost of air ambulance is prohibitive (kp 08/06/2018)

Mothers, infants dying for want of birthing centres (ht 04/06/2018)

Calls to make In Vitro Fertilisation affordable: Practicing gynaecologists and obstetricians stress the need to expand IVF centres in different parts of the country for the benefit of the infertile couples (kp 03/06/2018)

Reflection on abortion: Though it took a long time for us to provide abortion rights to women in Nepal we did not have to come to the streets for this like in Ireland, by Aruna Uprety (rep 02/06/2018)

Rise in C-section surgeries a cause for concern (ht 01/06/2018)

Let’s talk about it: A Nepali Times survey shows adolescents want to know more about reproductive health, but don’t have anyone to turn to, by Duksangh Sherpa (nt 01/06/2018)

Cases of fistula on the rise, doctors concerned (ht 29/05/2018)

Maintain menstrual hygiene to avoid infection risk, advise docs (kp 28/05/2018)

Uterine prolapse a major health problem among Khotang women, by Daman Rai (rep 28/05/2018)

Bajura new mothers deprived of nyano jhola (ht 27/05/2018)

Diabetes during pregnancy risky: Docs (ht 23/05/2018)

Hospitals unaware of safe motherhood campaign (ht 20/05/2018)

Karnali has high homebirth rate (kp 09/05/2018)

Pyuthan hospital tense over botched delivery: Relatives of Radhika Dhamal claims the hospital tried to cover up her death by trying to refer her to another hospital (kp 03/05/2018)

Women in Dolpa get free uterine prolapse treatment for the first time (rep 29/04/2018)

Ministry launches ‘Safe Motherhood Year 2075’ (kp 17/04/2018)

Women in rural areas still hesitant to treat uterine prolapse, by Narhari Sapkota (rep 15/04/2018)

Early marriage leading to rise in teenage pregnancy in Ramechhap (ht 12/04/2018)

Pregnant woman in critical condition saved (ht 11/04/2018)

Social stigma preventing uterine prolapse patients from treatment, by Daman Rai (rep 05/04/2018)

Sex, reproductive health education showing impact (ht 02/04/2018)

Miscarriages on the rise in valley (ht 26/03/2018)

Bajura women deliver babies at home (ht 24/03/2018)

Migrating males and population decline: Nepal’s fertility rate is going down even though contraceptive use has not increased, by Om Astha Rai (nt 23/03/2018)

Teenage pregnancy rates on the rise (ht 22/03/2018)

Obstetric fistula: Let’s work to end it, by Aruna Uprety (ht 12/03/2018)

Doctors demand subsidy on drugs for newborns (ht 11/03/2018)

Female patients of kidney diseases deprived of proper care and treatment: Pregnant women with high blood pressure are at high risk of kidney diseases (ht 08/03/2018)

Ectopic pregnancy cases rising (ht 04/03/2018)

UNFPA holds briefing on family planning (ht 24/02/2018)

Health facilities facing shortage of vital drugs for pregnant women, new mothers (ht 10/02/2018)

Medics leave gauze pad inside woman’s womb (kp 31/01/2018)

Sorry tale of young Chepang moms who have babies every year, by Sarita Shrestha (rep 27/01/2018)

Mothers to get motivation allowance for delivering babies in hospitals, by Radha Dhungana (rep 23/01/2018)

KAHS to provide free treatment for uterine prolapse, by DB Budha (rep 16/01/2018)

SC turns down petition seeking to allow surrogacy (ht 06/01/2018)

Woman in labour saved (ht 01/01/2018)

75 pc women in Khotang still deliver babies at home (rep 01/01/2018)

Married and unmarried women suffering from uterine prolapse, by Khamma Khatri (rep 01/01/2018)

36 pc children below 5 stunted in Nepal; Anemia prevalence in increasesd 5 percent, by Bishnu Prasad Aryal (rep 27/12/2017)

Draft of national nursing, midwifery policy prepared (ht 25/12/2017)

Number of women suffering from ovarian cysts increasing (ht 17/12/2017)

Women risking their lives in Achham in obsession for a male child, by Khamma Khatri (rep 16/12/2017)

Jumla women deprived of birthing facilities, by DB Buda (rep 14/12/2017)

Protest in Kalikot as pregnant woman dies, by Pabitra Kumar Shahi (rep 14/12/2017)

Kalikot Woman dies of postpartum bleeding (kp 13/12/2017)

Young mothers: Adolescents are becoming pregnant and risking lives for lack of awareness, by Eliza Apprazita KC (kp 05/11/2017)

Premature babies vulnerable to retinopathy, by Anita Shrestha (ht 23/10/2017)

Woman delivers baby boy in mid-flight, by Tekendra Basyal (rep 10/10/2017)

Embarrassment keeps women from seeking uterine prolapse treatment (ht 05/10/2017)

58 per cent abortions carried out illegally (ht 27/09/2017)

Pregnant girl, 16, dies for lack of timely treatment, by Arjun Shah (kp 22/09/2017)

Dangerous mercury level found in Nepali women of childbearing age (kp 19/09/2017)

Flood victims receive reproductive health services (ht 15/09/2017)

New mothers deprived of allowance in Udaypur (ht 11/09/2017)

People, Politics, and Placentas: Despite dramatic improvements in maternal survival, many Nepali mothers are still dying needlessly at childbirth, by Bikash Gauchan (nt 08/09/2017)

Reconceiving the second sex: Nepal must protect reproductive health rights of women with disabilities, by Dev Datta Joshi (kp 05/09/2017)

Citing losses, Lumbini Medical College exits safe motherhood program, by Mukti Prasad Nyaupane (rep 24/08/2017)

Public breastfeeding still a stigma, by Pooja Chauhan (rep 19/08/2017)

Freezing a future family: Nepalis are increasingly preserving their eggs, semen and embryos but not just for urgent medical reasons, by Shreejana Shrestha (nt 11/08/2017)

Benefits of breastfeeding: Despite clear legal provisions to discourage use of formula milk, pediatricians and health workers still prescribe it without hesitation, by Mukesh Adhikari (rep 07/08/2017)

Maternity leave: MoH expedites work to increase leave days (kp 05/08/2017)

Breastfeed infants to reduce malnutrition risk, say experts (ht 06/08/2017)

Govt fails to control rampant use of alternatives to breastfeeding (ht 02/08/2017)

Underage pregnancy, abortion in street children a health concern, by Pooja Chauhan (rep 02/08/2017)

Pregnant women in rural Gorkha face a tough time, by Sudip Kaini (kp 30/07/2017)

Woman allegedly tortured for giving birth to a baby girl, by Manoh Paudel (kp 30/07/2017)

Safe motherhood drive effective in Lamjung (ht 28/07/2017)

Significant strides in safe motherhood in Nepal: 60 percent of expectant mothers visit health facilities for delivery (kp 25/07/2017), More Nepali women seek health care delivery (ht 25/07/2017)

Global Gag Rule could 'cripple' healthcare in Nepal, by Ethan B. Winter rep 17/07/2017)

Missing daughters: At the root of sex-selective abortion lies the culture of preferring sons,  by Anjita Parajuli (kp 16/07/2017)

UNFPA for providing vulnerable people access to family planning services (ht 11/07/2017)

Birth rate declining fast, says report (ht 10/07/2017)

New moms deprived of government incentives (ht 10/07/2017)

Woman in labour helped after three days (ht 26/06/2017)

The pain and shame of 1 million Nepali women: Uterine prolapse afflicts one in every ten women in Nepal, by Rojita Adhikari (nt 23/06/2017)

Unsafe abortions rife among female drug users (ht 21/06/2017)

Rare pregnancy case successfully treated in Beni Hospital (rep 12/06/2017)

Menstrual hygiene day: Education is a powerful tool in raising awareness, smashing taboos and debunking myths surrounding menstruation, by Pragya Lamsal (kp 28/05/2017)

Things so complicated: Before making laws against obstetric violence we should make women aware of their birthing rights, by Shreyashi Aryal (rep 27/05/2017)

UN stresses on ending shame for women with fistula: It is considered a disease of poverty or injury because of its tendency to occur in women in poor countries who do not have access to adequate obstetrics care (kp 24/05/2017)

Friendly health services: For adolescents, by Anusha Ban and Kabita Devkota (ht 15/05/2017)

Children surviving with thalassemia (ht 09/05/2017)

Bajura women take to contraceptives (kp 04/05/2017)

Many Nepali women deprived of reproductive rights (ht 02/05/2017)

Muslim women feel comfortable getting abortion service (ht 25/04/2017)

Drop in neonatal deaths major gain: Experts, by Manish Gautam (kp 21/04/2017), Saving newborns: We should accelerate gains in reducing the number of neonatal deaths (kp 26/04/2017)

Saving Asia’s mothers: Nepal is one of the 12 Asian countries with the highest MMR, exceeding 100 deaths per 10,000 live births, by Anderson Stanciole and Federica Maurizio (kp 17/04/2017)

Emergency fund to be set up for pregnant women (ht 09/04/2017)

Even with health posts, Mugu women give birth in cowsheds (ht 07/04/2017)

Trump policy to affect family planning programs in Nepal, by Bishnu Prasad Aryal (rep 05/04/2017)

Unsafe abortions menacingly high, by Manish Gautam (kp 03/04/2017)

Pregnant woman dies for want of treatment (kp 01/04/2017)

Rural women still shy of seeking treatment for uterus prolapse, by Arun Bam (rep 16/03/2017)

Pregnant women more at risk of hepatitis A, E (ht 11/03/2017)

WHO calls for healthier future for newborns and mothers (ht 04/03/2017)

Cost-effective strategies: Several birth defects can be prevented by interventions before and during pregnancy, by Archana Amatya (ht 03/03/2017)

Maternal mortality remains bane of Banke, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp 03/03/2017)

42 women benefit from free surgery for uterine prolapse, by Ram Bahadur Kunwar (rep 03/03/2017)

Illegal and unsafe abortions put women’s lives at risk (ht 28/02/2017)

Health centre ‘violating’ free abortion rule (kp 23/02/2017)

Newborns battle to survive in sheds, by Prakash Singh (ht 23/02/2017)

Women suffering from uterine prolapse benefit from free health camp (rep 20/02/2017), Shame keeps women from seeking treatment for uterine prolapse (ht 22/02/2017)

Stigma around ovarian cancer keep women from seeking early treatment (ht 20/02/2017)

Kin’s stir after new mum dies at hospital (kp 12/02/2017)

Child marriage, teen pregnancies affecting female health, by Jagat Khadka (rep 11/02/2017)

Unsafe abortion continues unabated (ht 11/02/2017)

How the Trump gag rule threatens women’s lives in Nepal: The cut-off of American financing to providers of family planning services is a terrible blow to a country with few doctors and clinics, by Subina Shrestha (kp 11/02/2017), Back to the drawing board: Global Gag Rule can have huge repercussions on reproductive health services in Nepal (kp 17/02/2017)

More women are visiting abortion clinics in Myagdi: Safe abortion clinics are helping women avoid unwanted pregnancies, by Ghanashyam Khadka (kp 09/02/2017)

Newborn baby goes missing from hospital ward in Birgunj: Relatives accuse doctors, nurse, administration of negligence (kp 04/02/2017), Whereabouts of missing infant still unknown (kp 05/02/2017), Missing from hospital, infant found after 48 hrs: Police say a childless woman had taken away the newborn three hours after delivery, by Bhusan Yadav (kp 06/02/2017)

Pregnant women deprived of iodized salt in Bajhang, by Jagat Khadka (rep 04/02/2017)

Doctor airlifts pregnant woman to Solukhumbu District Hospital to save her life (ht 03/02/2017)

Nutrition allowance scheme boosts birth registration, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp 02/02/2017)

Women deprived of maternity allowance, by Kalendra Sejuwal (rep 31/01/2017)

At 32 years of age, this mother has 10 children!, by Pratap Bista (kp 30/01/2017)

Birthing centers not effective in saving lives, by DB Budha (rep 28/01/2017)

Parturition service at home in Bajura (ht 26/01/2017)

Pregnant mother dies for want of treatment (kp 24/01/2017)

‘Start of Bachelor in Midwifery programme a milestone’ (kp 17/01/2017), Degree in midwifery: It’s a key step, but it should be accompanied by proper incentive mechanisms (kp 18/01/2017)

10 women died giving birth at Lumbini Zonal Hosp in 16 mths, by Amrita Anamol (kp 17/01/2017)

Doctors save expecting mother in critical condition (ht 10/01/2017)

Broadcasting birth control, by Priyanka Gurung (rep 06/01/2017)

District hospital in sore need of Obstetricians (kp 30/12/2016)

122 birth centres operating in Baitadi to ensure safe delivery, by Khagendra Awasthi (kp 28/12/2016)

58 pc Doti women have STDs, by Arun Bam (rep 24/12/2016)

Saving one mother at a time: Safe delivery in a district hospital in remote western Nepal highlights the importance of having trained family doctors, by Bikash Gauchan (nt 23/12/2016)

Bajura women compelled to give birth in cowsheds (ht 18/12/2016)

SMS bringing more women to birthing centers, by Sangam Gharti Magar (rep 16/12/2016)

Malnutrition rife due to early marriage, pregnancy (ht 15/12/2016)

Where mothers give birth in cowsheds, by Prakash Singh (ht 05/12/2016), The gods will be angry: In the remote mountains of western Nepal, women still deliver babies in dirty, cold and stuffy cowsheds, by Mina Sharma and Prakash Singh (nt 09/12/2016)

Huge cuts in infant, child mortality: Under 5 fatality falls 76pc from 162 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990; Infant deaths down from 99 per 1,000 live births to 33, by Manish Gautam (kp 25/11/2016)

Rs 5,000 to family of woman who died during abortion (ht 18/11/2016)

Women issues, interview with Achala Vaidya, gynecologist at Norvic International Hospital (rep 11/11/2016)

Women’s health declining from hard toil (ht 10/11/2016)

Smuggling of birth control pills, shots rampant, by Parbat Portel (kp 30/10/2016)

14 per cent pregnant women malnourished (ht 24/10/2016)

Child deliveries, complex surgeries now possible in Bajura DPHO (ht 20/10/2016)

Rights activists call for making abortion free of cost, safe (kp 16/10/2016)

Pregnant woman dies for want of treatment: Bad weather delayed rescue by helicopter, by Ananda Gautam (kp 15/10/2016)

Unsafe abortion rife in Bajura (ht 14/10/2016)

Primary health centre sans building since earthquake, by Tika Prasad Bhatta (kp 01/10/2016)

MoH close to finalising free abortion guideline: More than a year after free of cost abortion plan was announced, the government has set aside Rs 32 million in the fiscal year 2016-17 to start the service (kp 28/09/2016), ‘Legalisation not enough to make abortion safe’ (kp 29/09/2016)

Most Bajura locals lack family planning awareness (ht 28/09/2016)

Saath-Saath completes five-year programme: The project met its goal of reducing transmission and impact of HIV/Aids and improving reproductive health in 33 districts (kp 27/09/2016)

Woman rescued two weeks after complicated delivery (ht 25/09/2016)

Pap knows best: Health education plays a major role in cervical cancer prevention and early diagnosis, by Bandana Neupane (kp 11/09/2016)

Barriers to better birth: Scenario in Far West, by Sheela Maru and Agya Poudyal (ht 09/09/2016)

Call for efforts to end maternal, child mortality (ht 07/09/2017)

3 women died of delivery complications in one week (kp 06/09/2016)

Abortion rate high among U-20 women in Gorkha (kp 02/09/2016)

Living in shame (rep 02/09/2016)

Female feticide: Unpardonable crime, by Ajay Shankar Jha and Roshan Kumar Jha (ht 11/08/2016)

Budget crunch deprives Rukum women of pregnancy allowance (ht 04/08/2016)

Breastfeeding benefits: All mothers should begin with the belief that their milk is adequate for their child; A child requires nothing other than breast milk till first six months, by Pratik Pokharel (rep 04/08/2016)

Unkindest cut: The increasing frequency of artificial birth in urban Nepal disempowers women, by Laxmi Tamang (kp 31/07/2016)

Pregnant woman dies due to health workers’ incompetence (ht 03/07/2016)

Dead foetus removed after three weeks (ht 01/07/2016)

Parturition service halted in Bhojpur District Hospital (ht 01/07/2016) [in demand of higher pay!?]

Pregnant women, new mothers and children bear the brunt of food crisis, by Prakash Singh (ht 04/06/2016)

Progress in curbing neonatal deaths could be reversed: Experts, by Arjun Poudel (rep 02/06/2016)

Growing cases of early motherhood a challenge in Madhes, by Santosh Singh (rep 24/05/2016)

UNFPA calls for improved access to fistula treatment for all women, girls (ht 23/05/2016)

Rural women deliver in vehicles on way to hospital, by Giriraj Baskota (rep 20/05/2016)

Illegal abortions rife in far-west region (ht 17/05/2016)

A passionate profession with uncertain opportunities, by Arjun Oli (rep 14/05/2016)

Shortage of blood in Bajura hits women in labour (ht 11/05/2016)

‘Midwives should be given due recognition’ (ht 04/05/2016), Government yet to introduce midwifery formal education (ht 05/05/2016)

Incentives fail to attract women for antenatal check-up (rep 30/04/12016)

Women’s reproductive health (ht 26/04/2016)

Hospital accused of doing premature c-section in surrogacy: Australian couple forced to pay over 30,000 US dollars for premature delivery, by Shreejana Shrestha (rep 21/04/2016)

Rural women shun prenatal tests (18/04/2016)

Pregnancy and safety Respect the Nepali calendar, by Isha Nirola, Sheela Maru and Pushpa Chaudhary (ht 11/04/2016)

100 million condoms out of USAID shelf in 23 yrs (kp 02/04/2016)

Mothers and their struggle to care, by Priyanka Gurung (rep 01/04/2016)

Mugu new mom dies, child abandoned at hospital, by Suman Malla (rep 19/03/2016)

Western regions ahead of central in safe delivery, by Arjun Poudel (rep 16/03/2016)

Invisible births: Stillbirth is a measure of the quality of maternity care and general health conditions of women, by Geha Nath Khanal (kp 06/03/2016)

Superstition makes villagers wary of using contraceptives, by Pratap Bista (kp 22/02/2016)

Bhojpur hospital resumes caesarean section service (ht 06/02/2016)

Call for providing sexual health education to young people (ht 02/02/2016)

Humla women giving birth in cowsheds, by Prakash Singh (ht 27/01/2016)

Benefits of traditional Newari massage come to fore, by Madhusudan Guragain (rep 26/01/2016)

New mothers in Humla deprived of allowance, warm clothes (ht 18/01/2016)

New mothers deprived of free maternity services, by Santosh Singh (rep 01/01/2015)

A journey to safe birthing station: To help uplift reproductive health of mothers in Mugu, by Meena B. Panday (ht 19/12/2015)

Thousands of Nepali women in India's rent-a-womb business, by Shreejana Shrestha (rep 02/11/2015)

Abortion still a taboo (ht 20/10/2015)

Early marriage taking toll on youths' health, future, by Janak KC (rep 20/10/2015)

Mother, infant death rate ‘nil’ in Baglung: No case of maternal and infant mortality was recorded in the past one year after birthing centres were established in remote areas, by Prakash Baral (kp 14/10/2015)

Gendercide: Nepal needs serious advocacy against sex-selective abortion to put an end to it, by Geha Nath Khanal (kp 13/10/2015)

Baby blues: Rather than see surrogacy as only a means to exploit women, one must also consider the desperation of childless couples, by Gaurav Lamichhane (rep 05/10/2015)

Tough question: Nepal needs serious discourse on controversy surrounding surrogacy (kp 23/09/2015)

Womb on rent: The government should formulate a law related to surrogacy to prevent the exploitation of women’s bodies, by Minani Gurung (kp 08/09/2015), Govt rolls back move to allow surrogacy (ht 19/09/2015)

Temporary contraceptives luring couples in Kavre (ht 30/08/2015)

Fears grow for Nepal’s pregnant women after quake (ht 29/08/2015)

Supreme Court issues interim order against paid surrogacy (ht 27/08/2015), NWC ‘concerned’ over surrogacy (kp 28/08/2015), Womb on hire: Govt should do adequate homework before introducing surrogacy laws (kp 28/08/2015)

Family planning drive for youth (ht 22/08/2015)

Surrogacy in Nepal: Threat to reproductive right, by Ramesh Parajuli (ht 18/08/2015)

MISP for reproductive health in time of crisis a priority issue (ht 13/08/2015)

Mothers and babies: Relief agencies move out, but the need for maternal and child care is greater than ever in quake-hit areas, by Om Astha Rai (kp 07/08/2015)

Health post distributes cell phones to pregnant women: Provides them telephone advise on daily routine and diet, by Bira Gadal (rep 04/08/2015)

Blood crunch hits emergency parturition service (ht 30/07/2015)

New mothers, babies face brunt, by Sudip Kaini (kp 30/07/2015)

Country needs more birth centres, say experts (ht 24/07/2015

Women still reluctant to report uterine prolapse, by Raju Adhikari (rep 23/07/2015)

‘Reproductive health right’ stressed (ht 16/07/2015)

Women compelled to get treatment on hospital floor, by Bimal Khatiwada (kp 12/07/2015)

‘Earthquake affects 1.5 million women of reproductive age’ (kp 11/07/2015)

Men still reluctant to undergo vasectomy, by Rekha Bhusal (rep 11/07/2015)

Bleak health scenario in Kaski (ht 09/07/2015)

New mothers, babies face health hazards, by Thomas Bogaty (ht 28/06/2015)

Quake-wary pregnant women, new moms stay in open risking infections, by Shreejana Shrestha (rep 21/05/2015)

Number of miscarriages, premature births ‘on the rise’, by Pratichya Dulal (kp 16/05/2015)

UNFPA, IPPF join hands to provide SRH services (ht 08/05/2015

High number of malnourished mothers in Parsa, by Ritesh Tripathi (rep 25/04/2015)

Pregnant women deprived of health care in Gorkha (kp 20/04/2015)

Lumbini area to have maternity health facility, by Amrita Anmol (kp 17/04/2015)

Bajura women using contraceptive THT pills to prevent menstruation (ht 30/03/2015)

Parturition service shut at sub-regional hospital (ht 19/03/2015)

Mobile app for saving lives of pregnant women, by Dilip Poudel (rep 19/03/2015)

WaterAid launches ‘Healthy Start’: Campaign focuses on improving health of newborns (ht 18/03/2015)

Maternal, infant death rates up (ht 06/03/2015)

Panel formed to review MMR status, by Rajan Pokhrel (ht 01/03/2015)

Iron pills a taboo among pregnant Pyuthan women, by Devendra Barma (ht 15/02/2015)

Govt to launch campaign to save newborn lives (rep 11/02/2015)

Hospital delivery still rare for Chepang babies, by Narhari Sapkota (rep 10/02/2015)

Government bid to minimise uterine prolapse ‘ineffective’ (kp 08/02/2015)

Talking About Safe Sex With Teens, by Rakhi Ghosh (rn 07/02/2015)

Govt run birth centers in remote areas unsafe, by DB Budha (rep 07/02/2015)

Report says disadvantaged children being left behind: Save the Children describes situation as ‘lottery of birth’ (ht 06/02/2015)

Local residents set up maternity centre (ht 05/02/2015)

Uneven and unequal: The gains that Nepal has made in maternal mortality are not distributed evenly across all geographic regions, by Lhamo Yangchen Sherpa (kp 03/02/2015)

Manpower,infrastructure crunch affects birthing centres in Pyuthan (ht 02/02/2015)

Wombs for rent: Commercial surrogate motherhood is moving to Nepal because of restrictions in India, by Binita Dahal (nt 30/01/2015)

Mothers’ groups saving lives of children, women (ht 29/01/2015)

Uterine-prolapsed women shun hospital until pain is unbearable, by Narahari Sapkota (rep 28/01/2015)

Reduced children, maternal mortality (kp 27/01/2015)

Contraceptive devices getting popular among Kotila Muslims, by Krishna Oli (rep 26/01/2015)

Uterine prolapse plagues rural women: Scores of Bajura women suffering from the disease mostly in their 40s (ht 16/01/2015)

Under five mortality rate: Nepal meets new MDG target (kp 15/01/2015)

Half of women of reproductive age marry before 18 (ht 15/01/2015)

Delivery at home taking toll on new mothers (ht 15/01/2015)

UNFPA provides women with reproductive health and dignity kits (ht 13/01/2015)

Muslim women opt for family planning, by Shiva Puri (kp 09/01/2015)

Govt, NPC to review maternal mortality ratio, by Rajan Pokhrel (ht 05/01/2015)

Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Key Indicators Report, by Ministry of Health and Population, November 2022

UNFPA. World Population Dashboard - Nepal, 2022

Impacts of protecting life in global health assistance policy in Nepal. Report by CREJHPA, September 2021