Gaighat, December 5

A woman died after she could not receive timely treatment due to lack of money at Belaka Municipality in Udayapur.

The deceased has been identified as 19-year-old Samjhana Rai of the municipality. Samjhana died on the way to Rampur-based Birthing Centre on Monday. Relatives took her to the centre after Rai complained of labour pain on Monday.

Samjhana had visited Rampur Health Post for check-up some days ago. Doctors at the health post had advised her to visit well-facilitated hospital as the report showed the baby inside her womb was in reverse position. Bharat Ghimire, a local, said Samjhana lost her life due to lack of money. “The economically poor family depended on the local health facility resulting in Samjhana’s death,” he added.

Samjhana’s neighbour San Maya Rai, said the labour pain occurred while Samjhana’s husband had gone to manage money for her treatment. “Samjhana could have been saved if she was taken to a well-facilitated hospital on time,” she said. Samjhana got married when she was just 13 years old. She has a two-and-a-half-year old daughter.

Mayor at the municipality, Durga Thapa, said two to three pregnant women lose their lives yearly owing to lack of well-facilitated hospital.