BAJURA, JANUARY 30
Excessive cold after snowfall has badly affected new mothers and their babies in Bajura.
Pema Gurung, a new mother in Budhinanda Municipality, had given birth to a baby girl nine days ago. Continuous snowfall has affected both mother and child badly. She said she had to bathe daily with cold water, and other family members had kept the mother and child apart. "The cold has affected us badly," she said.
Similarly, Mana Kala Rokaya of Himali Rural Municipality said she was living in a cowshed with her newborn. She said that she had to stay in a cowshed for a month from the day of delivery. Mana Kala and her son have been suffering from cold-related diseases. She added that women were suffering most in the cold weather.
Most of the new mothers in the local levels of Bajura, Humla and Mugu have to stay in a cowshed for a month.
Information Officer Kuber Shahi in Swamikartik Rural Municipality said that the new mothers had to follow strict regulations, including having to stay in the shed for a month.
"This year's snowfall has made the life of new mothers difficult," he added.
Auxiliary midwife at Rugin Health Post Prem Kala Malla said that the new mothers in her locality strictly followed the customs by staying in cowsheds. She said that the mothers and newborns in her locality were at risk of losing their lives due to the cold. Malla added that women in the northern areas of the district had to face more problems due to superstitious beliefs related to child birth.
Continuous snowfall has badly affected life in Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces. People living in the high hills have started moving to the lowlands due to excessive cold in the areas.
The bone-biting cold has affected daily life in Bajhang and Darchula, among other high hilly areas. Locals in Kanda Rural Municipality, Bajhang, said continuous snowfall and rain had badly affected life in the areas.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 31, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
