Janakpur, March 29: A new chapter in maternal and infant healthcare has begun in Dhanusha district in Nepal with the inauguration of the $1.2 million Dhanusha Birthing Centre. Funded by the United States Department of Defense and built by Nepali people, the centre is expected to be a critical health resource for thousands of women and infants in the Janakpur area.
The United States handed over the project to the Nepali authority amid a function in Janakpur today.
The Madhes Institute of Health Sciences in Janakpur, Madhes Province will operate the centre. The institute is a government medical educational organisation and works in conjunction with the Janakpur Provincial Hospital. The expansion of the healthcare facility is a direct response to the serious public health challenges Nepali people in this region are facing with regard to maternal health, said stakeholders.
The centre is equipped to handle a high volume of patients and is staffed by a team of dedicated government healthcare professionals committed to improving maternal and infant health outcomes in the region, they said, adding that through this initiative, the centre aims to become a model of excellence in maternal and infant care in Nepal.
The Dhanusha Birthing Centre stands as a testament to our commitment to maternal and infant health in Nepal,” stated U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson. “With its doors now open, it promises a new era of improved healthcare access aiming to significantly reduce the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. This facility is more than just a structure; it represents a commitment to protect the well-being of Nepali mothers and their newborns for generations to come.”
The centre’s impact extends beyond childbirth, promising to enhance post-natal and neonatal health and contribute to the reduction of infant mortality rates. It is another great example of the great partnership between the United States and Nepal over our 76-year friendship, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Nepal.
This is the second birthing center supported by the United States Department of Defense behind the one established in 2022 in Morang district at the cost of $1.2 million provided by the United States. The Morang-based birthing centre has 72 beds and provides treatment to thousands of women.
