A Call for Action to Further Improve Maternal Health and Reduce Maternal Deaths in Nepal

1. Nepal received the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) award in 2015 for the remarkable progress in the last two decades in decreasing maternal deaths and 7 improving women health. This achievement is a ributed to the Safe Motherhood program including the strengthening of the birthing centers; Aama Surakshya program promo ng antenatal check-ups and ins tu onal deliveries; expansion of the 24 hour emergency obstetric care services and safe abor on services. Under the Aama program, women receive incen ves for four ANC visits/ postnatal care and transport incen ve for ins tu onal deliveries. All ins tu onal deliveries in Nepal are provided free of cost to the women and the government reimburses the health ins tu ons for the cost of the delivery care 6 services. Presently 58% deliveries are conducted by skilled birth a endants, 57% ins tu onal deliveries and 8 57% postnatal follow-ups .