Hupsekot Rural Municipality Provides Nutrition Support to 76 New Mothers

Nawalparasi. Hupsekot Rural Municipality in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) has provided nutrition expenses at the rate of Rs 5,000 to 76 new mothers. The amount has been handed over to 76 new mothers within the rural municipality through the 'New Mother Care Nutrition Expense Program' so far in the current fiscal year 2082-83. Hupsekot Rural Municipality Chairperson Laxmidevi Pandey said that the nutrition expense program has been operated with the objective of supporting the health and nutrition of mothers and newborns after childbirth. "New mothers especially feel the need for financial assistance, nutrition, and care, and understanding these needs, arrangements have been made to provide some amount from the rural municipality," she said. She stated that the program has been operated with the objective that women from all classes and communities within Hupsekot Rural Municipality do not lack basic nutrition at the time of childbirth. Chairperson Pandey said that although the amount is sent to the bank account after childbirth, the nutrition expense program has ensured that the immediate needs can be met through loans. "Through this program, our effort is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates," she said, "We want new mothers to be able to eat nutritious food and take care of themselves." Hupsekot Rural Municipality Chief Administrative Officer Vedhari Adhikari said that the rural municipality considers this program as a step towards women's self-reliance along with maternal health. "We are also providing services such as health advice, regular check-ups, and vitamin distribution along with nutrition expenses," he said. Hupsekot Rural Municipality provides the amount to women who are permanent residents within the rural municipality after they submit proof of having visited a health institution four times for check-ups during pregnancy, giving birth at a health institution, and registering the birth of the child. Hupsekot Rural Municipality Health Branch Chief Krishnaprasad Sapkota said that this assistance amount can be used by the women themselves. "Through the program, we have found that regular health check-ups of pregnant women, childbirth in hospitals, and timely birth registration of newborns have become a habit," he said, "A single program has ensured maternal and child health as well as the child's birth registration."