Karnali province still records 64 percent homebirths

Surkhet – The Karnali province comprising 10 districts in the mid-western Nepal continue to record homebirths at higher percent. Data reveals that 65 per cent births in the province take place outside health institutions. 
Geographical remoteness, adverse environment, social superstitions, bad cultural and religious practices and lack of education are among the identified factors behind prevalence of homebirths at higher rate in the province. 

Nepal Family Health Survey report unveiled by the Ministry of Social Development, Karnali Province came up these findings. 

According to the survey, only 36 percent births take place in health facilities. Though some 73 percent women visit the health institutions for pregnancy checkups, but over 50 percent of them give birth at home, according to Chief of Health Service Division at the Ministry, Brish Bahadur Shahi. The province has not witnessed expected rise in the number of births under the care of health professionals. 

The child mortality rate is 29 per thousand and the maternal mortality rate is 22 per 100,000 live births in the province. Neonatal mortality rate is 47 and child mortality rate below 5 is 58 per 1,000. Homebirth is not taken as safer as birth in hospital. 

Division Chief Shahi said women of the reproductive age and the children in the province do not get enough nutrition and the average age in the province is 65 years. Emergency health problems resulting from natural disasters and new diseases are seen. 

Cancer, fatalities due to road accidents and mental health problem are on the rise in this province. The Ministry has stated that people's access to get quality medicines, availability of life-saving drugs and equipments and their distribution is also not sound in the province. 

Sensitisation for achieving full sanitation 
People's representatives and the employees of the local level have been sensitised regarding complete sanitation. 

The sensitisation programme was organised by the Centre for Development of Dalits and Ethnic Communities Nepal (CODEC-Nepal), Surkhet, with the financial support of the Environmental Sanitation Division under the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage of the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation. The Birendranagar Municipality coordinated the programme. 

The people's representatives participating in the sensitisation programme stressed on change from within for ensuring full sanitation status for the municipality. They underlined the need of launching a campaign of building clean and green settlements, localities and municipality wards. 
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