Gudiya Dhawal, a 27-year-old woman from ward 2 of Sammarimai Rural Municipality, gave birth to a boy on August 14 at the Asuraina Health Post’s birthing centre in ward 6 of the rural municipality.

Three of Gudiya’s family members accompanied her to the health post to care for the new mother and the infant. The family members were worried about the cost of renting a room close to the health post, but were relieved to find that the living quarter had a kitchenette for patients’ carers.

Gudiya’s father-in-law, Santaram Dhobi, said the attending nurse informed them about the availability of the room for them until Gudiya’s discharge from the health post. “The nurse told us we could use the two-room quarter. One room had a stove, utensils, food grain and other necessary food items so we could prepare our own meals, and the other room served as a three-occupancy bedroom,” he said. “I have four grandchildren and all of them were born here at the health post. During their birth and my daughter-in-law’s stay, we all were under pressure to arrange for our own stay. This new arrangement is much appreciated.”

The facility came into operation in November 2022 at the initiation of the local unit in coordination with a social organisation. According to Sukhanandan Pal, the head of the health post, the facility was set up at a cost of Rs1,000,000 with the social organisation and the local unit jointly bearing the total cost.

“Since the operation of the living facility, the health post has carried out 153 child deliveries. This service has also encouraged people to opt for institutional birth which has helped mitigate home births and the risks involved in it,” said Pal.

According to the birthing centre, a new mother must be accompanied by at least one caregiver post-delivery until she is discharged.

The local units south of the border of the Rupandehi district are still considered remote due to the limited availability of health services.

“Pregnant women from not only this rural municipality, but from other local units also come here for delivery,” said Pal. “The service has helped us bring pregnant women to the birthing centre. Those who have heard about this facility come to us with donations in kind. They help us replenish the pantry. This service has sent a positive message not only within the local unit, but also across the district.”

The health post has four nurses, three auxiliary health workers, and a senior auxiliary health worker. “Most health facilities only think about the care of patients, which is important, but it is also important to provide some comfort to the caregivers' patients,” said Pal.

Munshi Prasad Majhi, head of the health unit of the rural municipality, said that the local unit plans to replicate the service model in other health posts in the rural municipality as well. “We are very proud of our service,” said Majhi. “We plan to extend such services to other health posts as well.”

Alauddin Khan, a representative of the social organisation in Rupandehi, said that the organisation also plans to extend support to health posts willing to set up living quarters for carers. “We are working with Marchabari Rural Municipality to set up a lodging facility for carers at the local health post,” he said.