In Baitadi, a hilly district of Sudurpaschim province, 130 newborns have died in three years. According to the District Health Office, the infant died from the financial year 2076-77 to the year 2078-79.
Yogesh Prasad Bhatta, head of the health office, said that the infant mortality rate is increasing here every year. In the year 2076-77, 31 and 48 newborns died in the year 2077-78. He also informed that 51 newborns died last year.
Last year, the highest number of newborns died in Purchaundi Municipality was 13. Similarly, 11 infants died in Melauli municipality, 6 in Sigas rural municipality, 5 each in Dasharatchand and Patan municipalities, 4 each in Dilashaini and Shivnath rural municipalities and 2 newborns in Surnaya rural municipality.
Newborn babies die due to lack of skilled obstetricians in health institutions, not going to health institutions for delivery, etc. According to Health Chief Bhatt, premature birth, infection in newborns and death of infants also occur due to suffocation.
130 safe maternity service centers are operating in the district. Stakeholders insist that the local level should conduct a special program to prevent the death of newborns. Although all the rights of health are at the local level, various problems have started to appear when the local level does not give priority to the health sector.
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