“In this remote area I am the only one offering family planning to women.”

In Nepal’s mountainous Bajura District, the nearest health post might be days away on foot, putting contraception out of reach for many women. MS Lady Durga BK makes choice possible in these villages by going door to door, bringing contraception directly to women’s homes.

The trek out to remote villages can be challenging. “It takes three days to reach Bajura from Kathmandu. Offering my service to remote villages takes another three to four days on foot. At times there may be no drinking water, and it is difficult to walk alone as a woman. … It can take nine to ten days to get back home again.”

Durga makes the journey because she knows the women in these villages depend on her—and that without contraception, unintended pregnancies can put their health at risk.

“Women here get pregnant too often and too young. They are disadvantaged and uneducated. They have a hard life and know little about family planning. Because of the lack of health services and financial difficulties, women often resort to unsafe abortion. They do that by taking herbal medicines that can result in dangerous complications.”

Durga’s services are life-changing for women like Jun Devi, a mother of two children who received a contraceptive implant.

“I use the implant because having too many children can damage my health,” Jun Devi explained. “And I can’t give a third child food, clothes and education because we are in a bad financial situation. It used to be difficult to get family planning services here. The health post is two or three days away. But now I feel lucky that you bring family planning to our home.”