Advocating Women's Health

Imagine suffering daily shame, financial hardship, incontinence, repeated infections, poor hygiene, rejection by your husband, and social isolation. For many Nepali women these are ongoing realities. How embarrassing to have to push your reproductive organs back inside your body when you sit down after a walk, or if you simply cough or sneeze.

For many Nepali women, their prolapsed uterus is the terrible legacy of carrying large weights from a young age and repeated childbirths with improper medical assistance. A very rare condition in Western countries, prolapse is common in Nepal. Although it is treatable, for most poor women this is a costly dream.

Hope for Nepal is a project of Asian Aid. Asian Aid partners with both private and public health sector institutions to conduct a Women's Health program, which involves the assessment and treatment of third degree uterine prolapse. More than 5,000 women have received life changing corrective operations by way of hysterectomies.

A mobile health clinic is also funded, which travels to remote villages throughout Nepal screening women and raising their awareness of the causes and strategies for the prevention of uterine prolapse.

Three-hundred and fifty dollars provides one Nepali woman with an amazing gift. In a country where few women will receive such care, she will be referred to a hospital where a specialist will perform corrective surgery. While recovering she will undergo training about prolapse so that she can return to her area armed with the knowledge to encourage long-term change. She may be 70 and have carried the condition for 30 years or she may be 22 and have an entire life ahead of her. She may even dance down the hospital ward singing out, "I feel free. I feel like a teenager again."

The Bible tells the story of a bleeding woman who had suffered for many years. Ceremonially unclean, she dared to touch Jesus and defy the customs of her time. Although doctors could not heal her, Christ made her whole because of her faith. Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Imagine her joy!