Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2018

Chapter-1

Preliminary

1. Short Title and Commencement: (1) This Act shall be called the "Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2075".

(2) This Act shall come into force immediately. 2. Definitions: Unless the subject or context otherwise requires, in this Act,-

(a) "Emergency Obstetric Care" means the service available twenty-four hours to manage any complications that may arise during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum condition.

(b) "Basic Emergency Obstetric Care" means basic services such as administering antibiotics, magnesium sulfate or oxytocin, removing retained placenta, delivering the baby with the help of instruments (vacuum) and cleaning the uterus in case of abortion.

(c) "Adolescent" means a person in the age group of ten to nineteen years.

(d) "Abortion" means the act of the embryo exiting or being removed from the uterus before it is naturally capable of being born.

(e) "Contraception" means a method that prevents pregnancy by creating an obstruction in the normal processes of ovulation, fertilization of sperm and egg, or implantation.

(f) "Contraceptive means" means hormonal or other means that assist in the act of contraception.

(g) "Abortion service" means the abortion service provided by a licensed health worker in a licensed health institution for abortion, completing the procedure according to this Act.

(h) "Antenatal service" means the service referred to in Section 5.

(i) "Pregnancy" means the period from the first day of the last menstruation before conception until the fetus is in the woman's uterus.

(j) "Prescribed" or "as prescribed" means prescribed or as prescribed in the rules made under this Act.

(k) "Newborn Essential Care" means services including keeping the newborn warm and clean, caring for the umbilical cord and eyes, breastfeeding, and giving necessary vaccines.

(l) "Newborn Emergency Care" means services related to administering antibiotics in case of infection in the newborn, managing hypothermia, and managing respiratory problems of such infants.

(m) "Family Planning" means planning to determine the desired number of children or birth intervals using or without using any contraceptive means.

(n) "Reproductive Health" means the state of physical, mental and social health related to the reproductive system, processes and functions.

(o) "Reproductive health rights" means the rights referred to in Section 3.

(p) "Reproductive Health Morbidity" means conditions adversely affecting the reproductive system due to reproduction, pregnancy, abortion, childbirth and sexual behavior, and the term also includes prolapse, obstetric fistula, infertility, cervical cancer and other similar conditions affecting the reproductive system.

(q) "Midwife" means a trained health worker who performs the delivery of a pregnant woman.

(r) "Ministry" means the Ministry of the Government of Nepal dealing with health matters.

(s) "Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care" means, in addition to the basic emergency obstetric care mentioned in clause (b), blood transfusion and surgical services.

(t) "Safe Motherhood" means the maternity services provided to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period according to this Act.

(u) "Health institution" means a hospital, nursing home, medical college or health institution operated at the government, non-government, community or private level, and the term also includes a primary health center, health post or any other health institution operated under any name.