Nepal has some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Asia, particularly in the rural areas. In Achham, 99.5% of babies are born in homes and cattle sheds, and the presence of skilled birth attendants during delivery is rare. Bayalpata Hospital offers financial incentives for mothers to deliver babies at the hospital. With the help of our nurses and midwives we can conduct safe deliveries, deal with complications, or refer cesarean section patients to another hospital. Within a couple of months our Surgical Ward will be completed and we will be able to conduct cesarean sections at Bayalpata Hospital.
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Lindsey Youngquist is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar studying Community Health in Nepal. She recently volunteered at Bayalpata Hospital in Achham.
