The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has allocated the budget to set up basket funds to carry out the program in 12 districts. [break]
The Family Health Division (FHD) under MoHP says pregnant women, who need cesarean section, will be taken to zonal hospitals and medical colleges using those funds.
According to Dr Silu Aryal, chief of Safe Motherhood Program at FHD, the government was unable to send gynecologists and anesthetists to most district hospitals.
She said only 23 district hospitals have cesarean section facility. “We have allocated budget for the basket fund to be set up in 12 districts, including Manang, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, Rukum and Mugu,” she said.
The District Development Committee, local NGOs and INGOs of respective districts will also contribute to the basket fund.
Dr Aryal said the fund will be used to airlift pregnant women in critical condition to the regional and zonal hospitals.
“If pregnant women face complications before the delivery date, the woman and one of her relative will get travel fares and other expenses from the fund,” she added. The government created such funds in five districts last year.
The district hospitals are constantly publishing vacancies for gynecologists, but no one seems interested to go to the remote districts. Dr Aryal also reveals that the MoHP has decided to provide scholarship quota in private medical colleges for MD gynecologist course.
The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) has started MD gynecologist course a year ago. The ministry has provided eight seats for scholarship.
“The ministry has also decided to provide scholarship in private medical colleges,” Dr Aryal added. She said students after completion of MD gynecologist course will have to work in the remote hospitals for three years.
There are more than 1,100 birthing centers across the country but only few have caesarian section facility.
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