Women in the postpartum phase in Tila Rural Municipality have long been deprived of nutrition and incentive allowances. Health institutions (birthing centers) provide a transportation incentive of Rs 3,000 for women who give birth there and Rs 800 for regular pregnancy check-ups at health institutions. Additionally, the Karnali Provincial Government has introduced a provision to grant nutritional allowances to women delivering at health institutions. However, Rasmita Rawat, a resident of Jumlakot in Tila Rural Municipality, stated that postpartum women have not received the nutrition and incentive allowances since the start of the current fiscal year, despite giving birth in health institutions. She emphasized, “Although institutional deliveries play a crucial role in safeguarding the health and well-being of both the mother and newborn, postpartum women have not received these allowances on time.”
Biraju GC, the in-charge of Jumlakot Health Post, stated that postpartum women should receive nutrition and transportation incentive allowances at the time of discharge. However, these allowances had not been disbursed to women by the second week of February in the current fiscal year. The issue has persisted due to frequent changes in the chief administrative officer of the rural municipality and delays in payments. She stated, “We have convened a meeting of the health post management committee and decided to address this matter. We will soon receive the allocated funds from the rural municipality and distribute the nutrition and incentive allowances to postpartum women.” Additionally, 26 women in the current fiscal year have not received the allowances. A total of 88 women have given birth at the birthing center over three years, with 37 in the fiscal year 2022/23, 33 in 2023/24, and 26 by the second week of February in the current fiscal year, 2024/25. Furthermore, 16 women were referred for further medical care during this period, as stated by health post in-charge GC.
Similarly, at Ransa Health Post in Tila Rural Municipality-9, a total of 43 women have given birth at the birthing center, 19 in the fiscal year 2022/23, 18 in 2023/24, and six in January of the current fiscal year 2024/25 according to health post in-charge Datta Rawat. However, service delivery has been affected due to a shortage of staff. The rural municipality has been making contractual appointments to fill permanent positions, as noted by Ransa Health Post.
Likewise, Himali Khatri, an official at Raralihi Health Post, reported that 62 women received services at the birthing center, with 40 in the fiscal year 2022/23 and 22 in 2023/24. However, due to the closure of the birthing center until January of the current fiscal year, postpartum women were deprived of essential maternal health services, as mentioned by Khatri.