Free ambulance service for pregnant women and new-borns

Bhimdatta Municipality of Kanchanpur has started a free ambulance service for pregnant women and newborns. The service was launched during a program held at the Mahakali Regional Hospital.

Mahendra Khadka, the spokesperson of Bhimdatta Municipality, said that two midwives received services on the first day. "Some people have died when they gave birth at home because they could not pay for the ambulance. We have started the service with the aim that the underprivileged in the city should not be deprived of health services due to lack of money," he said.

City Deputy Chief Neelam Writer Joshi said that free ambulance service has been started as per the promise made during the election. "This service will run continuously," he adds.

Narendraraj Joshi, head of the health department of Bhimdatta municipality, said that since the municipality has only one ambulance, an agreement has been made with Mahakali Provincial Hospital, Nepal Red Cross Society and Family Planning Association to hire an ambulance. "Municipality pays the amount for bringing the pregnant women to the hospital and bringing them home. This will help especially the poor community," he explains.