Child marriage puts Humla girls at grave health risk

By Our Correspondent,Bajura, Apr. 15: Life of a pregnant girl has been saved after the efforts of the health workers of the Women’s Health Centre at Tajankot Rural Municipality of Humla.

A 17-year-old girl from Jimana Ward No. 1 of the same rural municipality was in critical condition as she was suffering from labour pains for a prolonged period of time. She was in extreme labour pain for about 25 hours.

Public Health Inspector Dhanraj Dhakal informed though they were able to save life of the teenager, the health workers could not save the baby born prematurely.  The girl, who was in labour since last Tuesday, was taken to the community health unit centre in Bhaj by her relatives on Wednesday night. After treatment was not possible there, she was taken to the Women's Health Centre.

By the time she reached the health center, her condition was deteriorating, so it was not possible to give birth. Married at 16 and pregnant at 17, she could not give birth easily due to her poor health condition. 

Her life was in grave danger due to prolonged labor pain. She failed to give birth even though the mouth of the uterus was open well enough.

After four to five hours of treatment, a malnourished baby was born, but died soon after. Dhakal said that the girl’s health condition has been seriously affected due to early marriage and pregnancy. Her health condition is not good due to a lack of enough food, health services and medicines, so both mother and child are malnourished.