E.M. JOSE
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.
Kharshiing, who is the chairman of Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice (SPIKAP) recently organised a conference of traditional herbal healers here.
The traditional birth attendants use conventional medicines, including mustard oil, for smooth delivery of babies and the newborns are also bathed in warm water with soap.
They also rectify the position of babies through traditional methods for smooth delivery.
Dwil Dohling Thongni, 53, and Iewntine Nongrem, 61, both from Mawkyrwat in West Khasi Hills, have many success stories while fulfilling their role as traditional birth attendants.
Take the case of Tista Maris Wanniang, 63, a resident of Mawkyrwat, who travels from one village to another to cater to pregnant women in far-flung areas. “At a time when there are no roads for the vehicles to carry the pregnant women to hospital, we have assisted them to deliver healthy babies,” she said.
In several villages, where are no health centres, their services have been appreciated by the residents, though the government had not given any due recognition to them, she added.
Men in Meghalaya are also proactive in taking care of home deliveries.
Bigstar Wanniang, 56, from Mawkyrwat and a relative of Tista Maris, is also a traditional birth attendant who has helped as many as 26 pregnant women deliver babies without any any complications. He said in West Khasi Hills there were many men who work as traditional birth attendants with 100 per cent success.
Many women in Shillong, too, depend on traditional birth attendants.
Beauty Kharmawphlang, 45, from the Umpling locality of Shillong, began using traditional methods for delivery of babies since last year. She has handled more than six cases so far successfully.
“Many people call me with the trust that I can safely handle the deliveries and often I don’t charge anything from the poor people,” Kharmawphlang said.
She said there were several instances where babies or pregnant women die during operations by the doctors, unlike in traditional home deliveries.
Moreover, if pregnant women who wish to go for institutional delivery do not reach the hospitals in time, there is a huge risk, she said, adding that lack of proper care in hospitals could also complicate the situation.
The traditional birth attendants who acquired the knowledge from their mothers and uncles want the government to recognise and support them as they are carrying out a selfless service without any monetary benefits.
The commissioner and secretary, health, said the government was not averse to the idea of recognising and acknowledging the services of traditional birth attendants. “We hope that one day a marriage of traditional and modern ways of birth attending will take place to ensure a healthy Meghalaya,” Wahlang said.
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