The Government of Nepal commits to equitable access to voluntary Family Planning (FP) services based on informed choice for all individuals and couples, in particular the poor’ vulnerable and marginalized groups.
The main aim of the National Family Planning Program is to ensure that individuals and couples are able to fulfill their reproductive needs by using appropriate family planning methods based on informed choice. Family planning can reduce unmet need for contraceptives and unintended pregnancy which ultimately helps to improve maternal and child health, empowers women by allowing them to invest more in their children and earn wages outside the home. In addition, it also helps communities and country to boost economic growth by expanding healthy and skillful labor force and allowing them to invest more money in school, health care and infrastructure development. Overall, National Family Planning Program helps to improve the quality of life of people and develop a nation.
Family planning is one of the priority programs of Government of Nepal, Ministry of Health. It is also considered as a component of reproductive health package and essential health care services of Nepal Health Sector Program II (2010-2015), National Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan 2015-2021, Nepal Health Sector Strategy 2015-2020 (NHSS) and the Government of Nepal’s commitments to FP2020. In Nepal, family planning information and services are being provided through government, social marketing, non-governmental organizations and private sectors. In government health system, currently, temporary family planning methods (male condoms, oral pills and injectable) are provided on a regular basis through health posts, sub health posts, PHC Outreach clinics. Female Community Health Volunteers are providing information to community people, and distribute condom and resupply of pills. Long acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) services such as IUCD and Implants are available only at limited number of Primary Health Care Centers and health posts where trained health care providers are available. Sterilization services are provided at static sites or through scheduled “seasonal” or mobile outreach services. Almost all district FP MCH clinics are providing all types of temporary FP methods regularly.
General and specific objectives of Family Planning Program include;
General Objectives:
GoN strives to improve the health status of all people, regardless of their sex, caste and ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Therefore overall objective of the FP program is to improved health status of all people through accountable and equitable health service delivery system through informed choice to access and use voluntary FP (through increased and equitable access to quality FP information and services).
Specific Objectives: