The VDC, which is resided by people from the Chepang community, has two health posts. However, presence of health personnel at the posts is a rare sight. Assistant Health Worker (AHW) Mohan Bahadur Chepang reaches the health post only twice a month while many other staffers are living in the cities under the pretence of attending training, seminars or family visits. As a result, local people in the area are deprived of timely medical assistance.

For instance, Charimaya, wife of Babulal Chepang of Lothar-6, gave birth to a baby boy after going into labour at home. As there were no health workers in the local health post, she was rushed to Gajuri in Dhading as the umbilical cord did not fall off and was pronounced dead upon arrival. Likewise, three years ago, during the birth of her fifth child, Kumari, wife of local Bishnulal Chepang, died of uterine inversion. Her uterus apparently turned inside out during delivery. Although she was rushed to the local health post, there was no one to be found and locals, in desperation, tried to push the uterus back in by using polythene instead of medical gloves.

The attempt was futile and both, mother and the infant, died two hours later. In another similar instance, Sailimaya, wife of local Sitaram Chepang, died of complications related to umbilical cord and profuse bleeding.

Most women in the area work in farmlands even late into pregnancy and some have even managed to give birth while at work. As women are unable to acquire proper medical care, a variety of complications, including uterine prolapsed and profuse bleeding, lead to their untimely deaths. Moreover, local women are unaware of the necessity of nutritional diets following child birth.

Another factor leading to maternal deaths is women’s ignorance about maternal safety as well as reluctance to visit health posts due to the absence of an Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM). “What is the reason of having a health post if it is of no use at the time of emergencies?” said local Ram Kumar Chepang.

Meanwhile, Baswang Sub-health Post chief Buddhi Raj Poudel, said they had difficulties staying at the health post since they usually had to attend training and seminars in the district headquarters.

On a positive note, he said they addressed local women’s concerns by appointing an ANM on a contract basis. He said if they could add a staff nurse, they would be able to provide 24-hour maternity services at the health posts.

Local stakeholders say urban-centred health services are yet to reach villages and even budget allocated for organising various awareness programmes in rural areas is spent in the urban areas.