Dec 05, Kathmandu - The ultrasound service at the health post in Mainpur Rural Municipality-3 of Pakaha in Parsa has been closed. Pregnant women have been the worst affected as the ultrasound service has been closed for the past four months.

The ultrasound service at the birthing center of the health post in Pakhaha has been closed since last Shrawan, said health post in-charge Ramnath Mahatto. The last free ultrasound service at the birthing center had started only since Baisakh.

The service was also closed after the additional allowance received by two health workers from the rural municipality who performed ultrasound examinations of pregnant women was stopped from last Shrawan, said Mahatto.

According to him, the trained staff nurse working at the birthing center who performed ultrasound examinations was receiving an additional allowance of Rs 1,500 per day and her assistant Anmi was receiving an additional allowance of Rs 1,000 per day. However, since last Shrawan, the health branch of the rural municipality sent a letter not to provide the additional allowance, Mahatto said. According to him, 15 to 20 pregnant women were receiving free ultrasound services from the birthing center every day.

Currently, pregnant women are being sent to Pokhariya and Birgunj, Mahatto said.