Siraha, Jan 30: To sheer negligence and irresponsibility of local levels and stakeholders toward new born and mothers’ health, a birthing centre at Golbazar municipality-6 of Siraha district is running in a sorry state. A dilapidated structure with leaky roof where muddy surface in rainy season and dusty in winter is commonplace.
Senior ANM at birthing centre, Mishri Kumari Shrestha, informed that when it rains, the leaky roof turns menacing- the new born and mother suffer the brunt. More worrying is the muddy surface, she added. “In summer, there is scorching heat. The roof of zinc sheet is too hot that it is likely to jeopardize the lives of both little ones and the birth givers,” she shared the plight.
Moreover, outside the hut, the wild grass poses threat of poisonous snakes. Health workers must stay vigilant to chase way snakes from entering the hut during rains and hot days.
ANM Shrestha said the birthing centre is in sorry state for four years, but no upgrading till date. Although Mayor of Golbazar Municipality, Sham Kumar Shrestha, was made aware about the plight, there was not solution in sight.
Senior ANM inspector working at the birthing centre since 2063BS, Sabita Shakya Panjiyar, shared similar suffering. They are forced to run the facility at a dilapidated structure- a vulnerable hut, she viewed. “Adding woes, the hut was encroached during road expansion. There were two beds earlier. With road expansion, one bed is removed,” she explained, “In rainy season, water drops on new born and mother are common, while braving brutal cold is equally challenging in winter.”
In this connection, chief of Golbazar Health Post, Satya Narayan Yadav, admitted that there was no progress at all to shift the birthing centre. “It is difficult for pregnant women to step inside the hut- more difficult during labour pain and delivery due to skimpy space. Two birth attendants find it tough to arrange essentials to conduct delivery,” he said, adding that there is sewage drain near the centre’s gate. Anyone visiting the centre has to come through the squalid place.
The health workers have been crying out for help to upgrade the birthing centre, but their cry fall flat to pierce pachyderm ears of concerned agencies. They worry how they could manage if the number of deliveries rises at once.
Meanwhile, asked about pathetic situation of essential health facility, municipal chair of Nepali Congress at Golbazar, Rajdev Saha, said it was a matter of disgrace to have such miserable state of birthing centre. “It is blatant assault on citizen’s health. Golbazar municipality must pay heed to it,” he commented. RSS
