Thanks to various campaigns launched across three municipalities and nine rural municipalities, the number of women giving birth at health posts is consistently rising in Sindhupalchok.

The campaigns include free treatment for pregnant women and ‘safe pregnancy’, and allowance for women delivering babies at health posts. Local units such as Melamchi, Helambu and Indrawati have been providing Rs3,000 for pregnant women on top of the regular support of Rs3,000.

Local representatives and health workers say they immediately receive calls whenever a woman gets into labour. The local units then respond by sending an ambulance as soon as possible.

“We are making basic health posts more managed, and are launching various campaigns with a budget of Rs5 million,” said Nimafunjo Sherpa, the mayor of Bahrabise Municipality. Today, there’s a birthing centre in each health post in all wards of Bahrabise, according to Sherpa. “The local representatives are dedicated to ensuring safe motherhood,” he said.

Melamchi Municipality has allocated Rs20 million for health services this year. It is conducting free health camps at various places, said Januka Parajuli, the deputy mayor.

Meanwhile, in Indrawati Rural Municipality, about 70 percent of pregnant women go to health posts to give birth, according to Bansha Lal Tamang, chairperson of the rural municipality.

Infant mortality rate is considerably declining, Tamang said. Safe deliveries are crucial also for bringing down the maternal mortality rate. For every 100,000 births in Nepal, 229 women die during or after childbirth.

Helambu Municipality has built two well-facilitated rest houses targeting pregnant women. The number of women delivering babies in health posts has risen from five in the fiscal year 2017-18 to 74 in 2018-19, according to Mayor Sherpa.

So far this fiscal year, the number is 58. If the health post is unable to treat pregnant women, the municipality provides free transportation service to Kathmandu, he said.