Not too well, according to the World Bank. A new Bank study concludes that women's subordinate position in society is the main impediment to their accessing health care facilities.

Other reasons rural Nepali women often do not receive adequate care are lack of knowledge, an unwillingness to disclose illness and ignoring ailments. Such attitudes to sickness are usually the result of other phenomena like few trained women at health care posts, and the unavailability of cash, an excessive workload , and caste-based discrimination, all of which are found to impact women's health more than that of men. The study says that flawed policies compound the problem. Rural women would have better access to health care if women were better represented at the policy level, policymakers understood gender issues better, there were a women's health database, more staff and supplies and political commitment.

What can be done to improve the situation? The report says starting awareness programmes to increase knowledge about women's health, "developing women's capacity to visit health care facilities", working with traditional healers, encouraging women to participate in health management and incorporating gender issues at every level of planning would all help.

Since we know why Nepali women aren't healthy, and what to do about it, it should be an easy ride from here on.