Integrated Reproductive Health Camps

Integrated Reproductive Health Camps brought critical health care to Jajarkot and West Rukum in Karnali District—areas affected by earthquakes the previous year. The earthquakes disrupted regular health services and highlighted the need for specialist services in these remote hilly regions. The project organized 28 health camps, targeting 8,400 recipients in coordination with the local municipalities, with a key focus on increasing service usage for marginalized populations and advocating for reproductive health issues within the communities. While the camps primarily targeted women, general healthcare was also provided and made available to men visiting the camps. This project was supported by UKAID through UN organizations (JRAP), with additional contributions from ADRA Switzerland and ADRA UK, and was conducted from July 2024 to January 2025.

Community Outreach and Advocacy

Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) supported the camps by visiting households and using questionnaires to assess the reproductive health of women in each household. Those identified with potential reproductive health concerns were encouraged to attend the health camps.

At the camps, women were screened for conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse, cervical cancer, and obstetric fistulas, along with other reproductive health issues. They also had access to family planning and psychosocial counseling services.

The health camps provided 10 services:

Pelvic Organ Prolapse Screening
Cervical Cancer Screening
Evaluation of Lower Abdominal Pain, Abnormal Vaginal Discharge, and Other Pelvic Health Concerns
Pregnancy Testing and Counseling
Sexually Transmitted Disease Screening and Counseling
Family Planning Services
Psychosocial Support and Counseling
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Counseling
Health Education and Awareness of Reproductive and General Healthcare
Distribution of Essential Medicines

Why Reproductive Health?

Reproductive health issues were common due to factors such as:

Early marriage
Early childbirth
Untrained birth attendants
Short birth intervals
Poor nutrition and lack of education

Stigma and low health-seeking behavior also contributed to the challenges women faced. These issues negatively impacted women’s physical, social, and mental well-being. Many women suffered in isolation due to stigma, unaware that help was available.

ADRA Nepal ensured that these health camps offered vital treatment, education, and support, empowering women to improve their own health and share knowledge with their communities, ultimately fostering better reproductive health for future generations.