Towards safer births

Superstitions and discriminatory customs continue to deny women their basic rights.

Four months ago, the District Health Office in Baglung established a community health unit and a birthing centre at Dhiri in Ward No 4 of Dhorpatan Municipality. There are some 100 households in this remote settlement, and most of them are Dalits. A dirt road was also opened last year, but villagers need to hike for hours to reach the nearest ward office or motorable road. So it was good news that Dhiri, which has a high maternal mortality rate, finally has access to basic health services, including a birthing centre. But superstitions, lack of awareness, structural barriers and discriminatory customs continue to deny women their basic rights, and even kill them and their newborns.