Ramechhap, September 16

A majority of women in Ramechhap have been delivering their babies at home without any medical assistance.

District Public Health Office, Ramechhap said 71 per cent women give birth to babies without medical support. Public health inspector Kesav Phuyal at the DPHO said delivering babies without medical assistance would put the mother’s life in danger in the event of complications.

Phuyal said despite the offer of attractive gifts for the mothers-to- be, the number of women coming to birthing centres or hospitals have not risen in recent times.

While health workers insist that various awareness programmes on safe delivery at the health centres are being carried out, it does not seem to have been fruitful.

Tirtha Khatri of Makadumki said many women from remote areas were still reluctant to visit health facilities to deliver babies and attributed this to a lack of awareness and poverty.

Inspector Phuyal said the number of under-aged girls delivering babies was high in the district.