Ramechhap, August 18

Health facilities in Ramechhap district have halted parturition service through caesarean method due to lack of clear provision on whether they are to operate under the District Public Health Office or the municipality.

Suspension of the essential medical service has hit hundreds of service seekers in Ramechhap and adjoining districts for want of a clear provision on which state authority is to facilitate the service. District Health Office Ramechhap Chief Dr Prakash Prasad Sah said they could not continue the service until they received directives from the Family Health Division.

“Whether the service is to be provided by the local body or district health office is not clear yet. Hence, the service has been affected. If we get a clear directive from the division, we can resume the service only after a month as contract of all health workers has expired and we have to notify them about renewal,” said Sah.

Primary Health Centre, Manthali, was the only health facility in the district providing parturition through surgery. The health facility had been dealing with complex cases of parturition with high skilled manpower and necessary equipment for the past 15 months, until mid-July. As per the centre, as many as 136 deliveries were conducted through caesarean method during the period.

A large number of pregnant women are facing a hard time due to the halted service at the centre, said Chief Dr Nilija Shakya. Over 20 women were referred to the capital in the past two weeks. “We used to provide all services for free but service seekers will now have to spend Rs 50,000 for the same in the capital,” she said.

“The authorities concerned should clarify and dispel confusion and direct the district level state agency about resuming the service,” said Janak Khatri, a Manthali local.