By Tika Bahadur Basnet

Dang, Mar. 14: Uterine prolapse is a major reproductive health issue in Nepal, mostly in the rural areas.
Gender discrimination and cultural practices such as early marriage and pregnancy make it difficult for women to escape uterine prolapse risk behaviours, experts said.
The most alarming fact is that uterus prolapse is very common even among young women.
A recent health camp held at Hashipur Health Post, Dang, showed how the adolescent girls of 18 years have been suffering from uterine prolapse.
Gothisara Nepali, 21, of Bagalachuli-8 of Dang, was just 18 when she was first diagnosed with uterus prolapse.
Married at the age of 13, Gothisara gave birth to her first child at 14. At the age of 18, she had already become a mother of four children (three daughters and one son).
She said, “I got married at a very young age and had four kids before I reached 18. If I had known about the consequences, I wouldn’t have done that.”
Wiping her tears, Gothisara said, “Now, there is nothing I can do except regretting. Now I am waiting for the day to get rid of this severe pain.”
Like, Gothisara, Kali Thapa, 65, of Bagalachuli-5, has been suffering from uterus prolapse.
Kali, who reached the health post with her daughter-in-law after she came to know about the health camp, shared that since 10 years ago she had been suffering from health problem.
“It has already been 10 years since I have been facing this problem. I feel ashamed to stand in front of anyone because of the odious discharge.”
As described by Kali, she has been facing difficulty in standing, walking, sitting or lifting goods. Moreover, it is stinking.
Lila Devi Roka,72, of Bagalachuli-7, was 52 when she was first diagnosed with uterus prolapse.
After almost 20 years, she visited the doctor at the free health camp, where the doctors suggested her for a surgery to get rid of the problem. “I have no words to explain what I have been through. Sometimes, I felt that I would die of this pain,” she said.
“Women who are known to have it are looked down upon,” Lila Devi shared her agony. “My body reeks due to urine leakage; some women don’t even hesitate to say that I have done something wrong, so that I am suffering from the problem.”
But she is happy that the doctors have assured she would get rid of the problem once she would undergo a surgery. “The Gaunpalika will provide financial aid for my surgery. After visiting the doctors, I am hopeful to live a healthy life once again.”
Gothisara, Kali and Lila Devi are examples to show how women in Nepal are suffering from uterus prolapse. Causes and risk factors for uterine prolapse are complex and deeply embedded in the cultural, economic, and social condition of women, said women development officer Parbati Rana.
They range from early marriage and childbirth to malnutrition, work overload and lack of rest in the pre- and post-natal period, she added.
The women who visited the health camp organised at Baglachuli Gaunpalika under the Chief Minister Rural Programme Recommendation and Implementation Committee shared their ordeals. They are finally happy that they are getting rid of the problem.
Vice-Chair of the Bagalachuli Gaunpalika Yamuna Thapa said the free health camp was organised considering increasing cases of uterus prolapse among women and young girls.
“Emotional isolation, risk of violence and discrimination, and social stigma are problems the women with uterus prolapse have been facing,” she added.
The health camp is being organised for the past three years, said Rana. “So far 39 women of the Gaunpalika have undergone free surgery in the camp. And this year, we have decided to provide the service to 20 more women,” she added.
She said there are 15 women who were at higher risk. They would undergo surgery within a month, said Rana, adding that total 300 women visited the camp.
Gynaecologist Dr. Binod Pokharel of Rapti Provincial Hospital said uterine prolapse was such a big problem, which the women were suffering from for long. “They hide their condition and feel ashamed.”