This is with reference to the news story “Where mothers give birth in cowsheds” (THT, December 5, Page 5). It is sad to note that many women still give birth in cowsheds due to lack of health centres and people’s perception about maternity services in rural parts of the country.

Due to unavailability of health facilities pregnant women are forced to give birth at home, particularly in cowsheds in mid-western districts. This trend has not changed over the years despite the fact that the government has invested million of rupees to improve the health condition in rural areas.

The government has also given incentives such as cash and clothes to those who visit the health facilities to give birth and visit regularly for health check-up during pregnancy. If women give birth in cowsheds there is a high risk of infection resulting in infant and maternal mortality rate.

The health facilities themselves are not well equipped and are situated far away from the villages from where they cannot visit there when they start labour pain.

The local clubs, mothers’ groups and cadres of all political parties must come forward to encourage the pregnant women to visit the health centres and they must develop a fund that can be used to carry the pregnant women to the nearest health centres to give birth.

This should not be a one-time event.

It must be a long-term campaign in all villages till the people develop a habit of taking pregnant women to the health facilities.

Anita Rokaya, Bajura

Still in tents

This is with reference to the news story “Many police units still operating from tents” (THT, December 5, Page 3). Since the massive earthquake in April 2015 many police outposts in the quake ravaged districts are operating from makeshifts.

The situation has made their work very difficult. It is reported that as many as 193 police posts had been destroyed which will require over Rs 5 billion to reconstruct them, an impossible task in the short term.

As the government is still struggling to rebuild the damaged private houses, schools, health facilities and drinking facilities, it is uncertain when the government start rebuilding the damaged public infrastructure.

What can be suggested at the moment is that the Nepal Police can launch a massive rebuilding campaign in all the districts using its own police personnel who can find time to do so when they do not have any pressing jobs like maintaining law and order and providing security during social and political tension as well as providing rescue operation during natural calamities.

Priority must be given to those areas where the security situation is volatile and they need a large number of police personnel to maintain law and order.

The law enforcing agency cannot discharge its duty when the police personnel themselves do not have basic amenities such as shelters, communication and transport.

Purna Sharma, Butwal