Humla, March 16

The District Health Office in Humla recently appointed the first female doctor in Karnali zone, Dr Smriti Mahat, with the aim of improving health service delivery for local women.

Santoshi BK, 28, of Raya VDC said that she had a difficult time communicating with male doctors about her ailments. Like other women in the area, Santoshi was extremely uncomfortable discussing sexual health problems with male doctors, a problem that has been mitigated after the appointment of Dr Mahat. Another local Dhana Raya, 27, at Dandaphanya VDC said that she visited the health facility for sexual health issues for the first time after the appointment of a female doctor.

Senior Auxiliary Mid-wife Sarita Bohora at the health facility said that the proportion of female patients rose to around 60 per cent of total patients after Dr Mahat assumed a position in the the DHO. “Most female patients are pregnant, or suffer from uterine prolapse, or STDs,” she informed.

The hospital has no quota for female doctors. Director Rita Bhandari of the mid-western Regional Health Directorate said that Dr Mahat was the first female doctor to be appointed not only in Humla, but in the entire Karnali zone.

There is one MDGP and two doctors with temporary status in Humla. Public Health Office Humla informed that there are as many as 25 Health Assistants and 26 Assistant Health Workers in the 26 health facilities in the district.