By Our Correspondent, Simkot, July 15: The state and the federal government have airlifted 18 pregnant and new mothers with complications from the remote parts of Humla district in the current fiscal year.

They were rescued from the places where proper medical facilities required for the patients are not available and have no road access.

The federal government has introduced the helicopter rescue programme to prevent the death of pregnant women or new mothers under the safe motherhood programme.

Ward chair of Limika-5 of Namkha Gaunpalika Paljor said that recently a pregnant woman of the ward was airlifted to Surkhet for treatment.

She was rescued by helicopter on Tuesday when her life was at risk after being unable to give birth, despite being in labour pain for four days.

She was rescued in coordination of local administration, said Palijor, adding that she had successfully given birth to a child in Surkhet.

Chief of Health Service Office, Surkhet Prem Bahadur Singh said since the beginning of the current fiscal year, 18 pregnant women of the district had been airlifted to the district hospitals of Humla, Nepalgunj, Surkeht and Jumla.

He said all of the rescued women had suffered from labour pain for three to seven days.

According to him, four pregnant women from mid-Namkha Gaunpalika, five from Chankheli Gaunpalika and two from Sarke Gaunpalika had been airlifted to Jumla, Surkhet and Nepalgunj district hospital.

Seven women have been airlifted to the district hospital, Humla, said Singh.

He said the government chose state-owned hospitals to provide treatment to the rescued women.

 “All the rescued women have successfully delivered their babies,” he added.

Senior Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Sarita Bohora of the district hospital said, “Some pregnant women were rescued in a very critical condition. Fortunately they survived and successfully delivered their babies with an effort of doctors and healthcare workers.”

Singh said of the total rescued women, the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens provided financial aid for the rescue of three women, while the rest were rescued by the Social Development Ministry under Karnali State.

In the last fiscal year, 11 women from the district were rescued, said Singh.