The newly built Dhanusha Birthing Centre was inaugurated and handed over to the Madhesh Institute of Health Science, Janakpur on Friday.

Funded by the United States Department of Defence, the birthing centre was built at an investment of $1.2 million.

Dubbing the project a new chapter in maternal and infant healthcare, the US Embassy in Nepal said that the centre would be an important health resource for thousands of women and infants in the Janakpur area.

The birthing centre will be operated by the Janakpur-based medical institute and will work in conjunction with the Janakpur Provincial Hospital.

The new birthing centre will expand the province’s access to basic health services by adding over 72 beds to the hospital.

“The centre is equipped to handle a high volume of patients and is staffed by a team of dedicated government healthcare professionals committed to improving maternal and infant health outcomes in the region,” the embassy said.

“The Dhanusha Birthing Centre stands as a testament to our commitment to maternal and infant health in Nepal,” stated American envoy Dean R Thompson.

“With its doors now open, it promises a new era of improved healthcare access aiming to significantly reduce the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. This facility is more than just a structure; it represents a commitment to protect the well-being of Nepali mothers and their newborns for generations to come.”

The centre’s impact extends beyond childbirth, promising to enhance post-natal and neonatal health and contribute to the reduction of infant mortality rates.

This is the second birthing centre supported by the United States’ DOD in the past two years. The United States committed a total of $1.2 million to also establish the birthing centre in Morang, which was completed in 2022, has 72 beds, and serves thousands of women.