103 pregnant and postpartum women receive medevac services in a year

A vital air ambulance service in Nepal has provided critical medical evacuations for 103 pregnant and postpartum women over the past fiscal year. This initiative, part of the President’s Women Upliftment Programme, aims to save lives in remote areas where access to timely medical care is limited.

The Ministry of Women, Children, Gender, Sexual Minorities and Social Security, in collaboration with the Nepali Army, facilitated these life-saving medevac flights. The program operates under the Air Rescue Procedure 2077, which outlines the criteria for emergency air transport.

High-risk pregnancies and childbirth complications that qualify for evacuation include prolonged labor exceeding 18 hours, abnormal fetal positioning, issues with the umbilical cord, intrauterine fetal death, and severe swelling during pregnancy. Postpartum emergencies such as heavy bleeding, uterine rupture, or suspected ectopic pregnancy are also covered.

This program addresses a critical gap in healthcare access for women in Nepal's remote regions, ensuring that life-threatening conditions during pregnancy and after childbirth receive immediate attention through air rescue.