Jhunki Soren would be fortunate unlike many other women in her Chirouta village in rebel-hit Belhar block of Banka district.

The homemaker, who is expecting a baby soon, heaved a sigh of relief with the inauguration of a delivery centre at nearby Basmatta primary health centre on Saturday.

Many a woman like Jhunki — who has old in-laws and her husband, Basant, works as a migrant labour in Punjab — were left in the lurch earlier because there was no option for delivery in lack of proper facility at their villages.

People were compelled to depend on traditional deliveries, which on many occasions resulted in maternal or newborn mortality. “We had to walk more than 8km to reach Belhar primary health centre with would-be mothers. Since the area is Naxalite-hit, we could not come out from home in night hours to reach Belhar even in emergency. Secondly, the areas do not have any transportation facility,” said Sabita Soren, a homemaker at Tangra, near Chirouta.

“In 2012, I have lost my daughter, Kabita, who was in advance labour pain and she died on way to Belhar,” recalled Phoolmuni Besra, an old woman at Junka, another tribal-dominated village.

Banka civil surgeon K.P. Singh, who had inaugurated the new delivery centre at Basmatta sub-health centre on Saturday, said priority had been given for opening of such centres in remote areas under government directive. “With its opening, Banka district has now 29 delivery centres in remote areas,” Singh said.

“The centre would function till 4pm but later it would be functional round-the-clock. At present, doctors and medical staff of this sub-health centre would look after the delivery. Some additional medical staff would soon be deployed here,” Singh added.

Banka medical officer Rajesh Mahato said with the opening of such delivery centres in remote parts in the district, people would not only be the beneficiaries but also the lives of mothers and newborn babies could be protected. “In absence of delivery centres in far-flung areas, people used to depend on traditional delivery system. Traditional systems have become dangerous and fatal mainly because of lack of proper skilled experts and neo-natal facilities,” he added.

Father Bijay Soren of Basmatta Mission has welcomed the decision of opening delivery centres in remote places. “We should have awareness about modern health facilities but people in this region who are mostly poor and illiterates do not have the privilege to enjoy health facilities like in cities and towns. The government should take care of these areas and provide proper health facilities here for the poor mass,” he said.

on record

India continues to contribute about a quarter of all global maternal deaths

Maternal mortality rate (MMR) is defined as the number of women between 15 and 49 years dying from childbirth associated causes per 1 lakh live births

Decline in MMR estimates in 2010-12 over 2007-09 in India: 178 from 212 (a fall of about 16%)

Bihar/Jharkhand: 219 (In 2006-07, it was 261)

About half of the total maternal deaths occur because of haemorrhage and sepsis. A large number of deaths are preventable through safe deliveries and adequate maternal care