Traditional birth attendants. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, Aug. 3: Flora Mynsong, 49, from Umsolait village under Mawhati area of Ri Bhoi district has helped as many as 600 women deliver their babies at home. Mynsong is a traditional birth attendant in Meghalaya, one of the many unsung heroes who play a big role in effective delivery of babies in far-flung areas where there are no hospitals or roads to carry pregnant women to hospital.

For her the task is a god’s gift, which she learnt from her mother, and she does not want to seek any remuneration from the poor women. However, from those who can afford to, she charges a nominal fee of Rs 200 to 300.

Mynsong, who is in this traditional profession since 1995, says giving birth at home was more comfortable for mothers than institutional deliveries. Many traditional birth attendants claim that there was not even a single case of baby deaths while they attended to the pregnant women over the years, compared to hospitals, where post-natal deaths are fairly common.

While institutional delivery in Meghalaya is as low as 46 per cent, the government has not recognised the growing group of traditional birth attendants.

According to the official data for last year, 54 per cent of the population depends on traditional means of delivery.

Commissioner and secretary, health, Meghalaya, D.P. Wahlang said an independent agency should validate the claim of traditional birth attendants that there were no deaths of babies or mothers during the deliveries undertaken by them.

However, an advocate of the traditional herbal healers, including birth attendants, John Kharshiing, said it was high time the government recognised the group and provided assistance to complement the growth of a healthy society.