BAITADI: A woman in labour has given birth to a baby girl on the way to a distant health post in Baitadi district today. After delivering the baby, the new mother lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding and placenta being stuck in her uterus.

One of the relatives contacted Talahadehi Health Post at Puchaudi Municipality-9 in the district. Subsequently, a midwife was sent to the site to treat the new mother before bringing her to the health post.

Hemanta Singh Saud, in-charge of the health post said, "If the health worker had not reached the site on time, the new mother's condition would have been serious."

An auxiliary nurse midwife Pashupati Kumari Bohara said, "We provide delivery service to a pregnant woman on the way to a health facility in case of an emergency."

We treated the patient there and carried her on a stretcher to the health post. Most of the villagers were superstitious so they hesitated to touch the new mother.

"Despite excessive bleeding, the health professional reached the site on time and saved my life," the new mother expressed happiness.

Majority of women in the area are compelled to give birth to their child at homes and sometimes on the way to far-away health posts in the district.

There are altogether 126 birthing centres in the district.

According to Public Health Nurse Mamata Joshi at the District Hospital, although there are many birthing centres, only 64 per cent of the deliveries are provided through organised system. "Women in remote villages are compelled to give birth to their babies at home as maternal service is out of their reach," Joshi shared.