Anjana BK, a 27-year-old woman from Ramuwa in Galkot Municipality Ward 10, gave birth to her second child at the urban health centre in her village one and a half months ago. For the birth of her first child three years ago, she had to go to a health post in Pandavkhani, a three-hour bus ride from Ramuwa.

The establishment of a birthing centre in Ramuwa three months ago has come as a boon for the women of not only Ramuwa but also its neighbouring villages.

In the past three months, eight women have given birth at the centre, according to auxiliary health worker Durga Rana, head of the birthing centre.

“Before the operation of the birthing centre, pregnant women had to go to Pandavkhani for check-ups. Pregnant women from the villages had to suffer especially during the rainy season because the roads would not be fit for travel,” said Rana. “Pregnant women could only be taken to the health centre at Pandavkhani on a stretcher. It would be a long and arduous journey. The establishment of the centre has helped women in ways only a pregnant woman can understand.”

According to Rana, the centre is equipped with the necessary equipment for maternity services. “The centre also provides consultation and counselling services for pregnant women,” she said.

According to the District Health Office, 36 birthing centres were established in remote areas of Baglung in the last three years. Laxmi Sharma, public health inspector of the District Health Office, said that earlier there were 21 birthing centres across the district. “But these centres could not cater to pregnant women from far-flung villages. The establishment of birthing centres in rural areas ensures every woman gets the opportunity to opt for institutional birth which is a safer choice,” she said.

Sharma said that in the last fiscal year, 90 percent of the pregnant women gave birth in the health facilities and also went for regular health checkups. “The aim is to give women in rural areas easy access to birthing facilities to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates,” she said.

Birthing centres have been established in 57 health facilities in the district. Even the health facilities in the remotest areas of the district, such as the Narjakhani Community Health Centre in the Tamankhola Rural Municipality and the health centre in Badigad Rural Municipality, are fully equipped with maternity equipment, tools, and skilled manpower to run birthing centres.

Jokhalal Budha, chairman of Tamankhola Rural Municipality, said that the birthing centre in his local unit was established two years ago. “Earlier due to the difficult topography, pregnant women had to wait for helicopter rescues,” he said. “The establishment of the birthing centres has come as a relief for us all.”

Amar Thapa, head of the District Coordinating Committee, said that with the establishment of the birthing centres, there has been an increase in the number of pregnant women going to health centres for prenatal check-ups. “It has lowered the risk of infant and maternal deaths in the rural areas of the district. There are some local units like Badigad Rural Municipality cut off from the rest of the district that are still in need of more birthing centres,” he said.