Nepal

Home-births fall to zero in Badimalika with access to village health services

By Prakash Singh

A woman receiving health check-up in Kordha Urban Health Centre. Photo: Prakash Singh/ THT

BAJURA, FEBRUARY 27

Kidi Baduwal of Badimalika Municipality-6 recently gave birth to her seventh child at Kordha Urban Health Centre.

Baduwal, who had previously birthed six children at home and later in the distant Budhiganga Health Post in Jadanga, gave birth to her seventh child at the nearby local health centre with assistance of health personnel.

With the establishment of the health centre, many women like Kidi have been able to receive maternity services in their village.

Around 350 households of Badimalika-6 are receiving timely check-ups, maternity services and pregnancy tests in contrast to the past when they had to rush to Budhiganga Health located at a walking distance of two-hours.

Due to the distance, women were compelled to give birth at home or, worse, on way to the health care facility. Many women were also denied access to regular health services.

Owing to the reason, the municipality decided to establish Kordha Urban Health Centre to facilitate pregnancy tests and maternity services.

Since the inception of the centre, no one has given birth at home in the village, according to Bishnu Baduwal, in-charge of the centre.

Likewise, other patients too have been greatly benefited as they no longer have to walk for hours to fetch something as basic, and yet important, as paracetamol.

The municipality is also managing skilled midwives along with other health facilities at the centre.

The centre provided maternity services to 41 women in fiscal year 077/078 alone.

Since Shrawan, 17 women have received maternity services at the centre, according to Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Hema Shahi.

In the fiscal year 077/078, the health centre treated 2,276 additional patients.

According to mayor Padam Baduwal, the municipality has established health centres in seven places and is planning to establish health centres in surrounding areas.