KATHMANDU, AUGUST 4

The government said it had provided free air rescue service to 160 pregnant and postpartum women in critical condition in the fiscal 2021-22.

According to statistics published by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, 26 women in 2018-19, 87 in 2019-20, 103 in 2020-21 and 160 in 2021-22 were rescued by chopper to save their lives.

The number of rescued women has been gradually increasing.

The MoWCSC said the government had provided air ambulance service to pregnant and postpartum women in the remote areas of the country airlifting them to health facilities in emergency rescue operations under the President's Women Upliftment Programme.

Most of the rescued women are from Taplejung, Panchthar, Jajarkot, Salyan, Bajhang, Bajura, Jajarkot, Khotang, Dhading, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Solukhumbu, Achham, Okhaldhunga, Rukum (East), Rukum (West), Dolpa, Rasuwa, Gorkha, Kalikot, Baitadi, Ramechhap, Sankhuwasabha and Humla.

Pregnant and postpartum women facing the risk of death for want of emergency medical service have benefited from the air rescue service in line with the 'Procedure Related to Air Rescue of Pregnant and Pospartum Women in Critical Condition in Remote Areas, 2018'.

The procedure aims to provide quality and dependable service to those women living in remote areas where proper medical facilities required for patients are not available.

The women are airlifted to the nearest hospital where necessary medical services are available.

At least two family members or caretakers of the patient are also allowed to accompany the patient for support during the rescue operation.

The MoWCSC said the programme had proved to be effective as part of the implementation of the citizens' constitutional right to safe motherhood and reproductive health. This facility is fully available to women of 30 districts and partially to only those living in specified places in four districts.

The air services are procured from the government and private airlines under the Public Procurement Act for providing emergency air rescue service to women.

There is a nine-member Air Rescue Coordination Committee led by the chief of Women Empowerment Division at the MoWCSC that coordinates with the enlisted air service providers to rescue patients.

Likewise, there is a provision of a five-member Local Recommendation Committee headed by chief of the concerned local level to make recommendation to the ARCC for the rescue of pregnant and post-partum women based on the need and financial condition of the concerned patients.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 5, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.