The Serenity and Danger of Childbirth in Nepal

The Serenity and Danger of Childbirth in Nepal
The people of rural Nepal have a beautiful spirit but limited access to medical care. Pavel Svoboda Photography/Shutterstock
Peter Weiss
Updated:

I don’t remember her name, but I do remember her courage. We had all our gear packed, and we were ready for our caravan to take us back to “civilization.” Our guide received a call that a woman was about two hours out and badly needed to see the “doctor” who she heard was visiting from America.

We had an eight-hour trek by car ahead of us in our Tata Jeeps, driving down what was nothing more than a goat path. Travel time in this part of the Himalayas, in Nepal, is measured by walking. This woman was two hours away by foot, not by car; she had been already walking for six hours trying to get to us. It’s fascinating that travel time here is measured by walking, and yet there is better cell reception than I have at home.

Peter Weiss
Peter Weiss
MD
Dr Peter Weiss is a nationally known physician and healthcare thought leader who has advised CEO’s, and political leaders on current and future healthcare trends affecting our country. He was a national health care advisor for senator John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and was an Assistant Clinical Professor of OB/GYN at UCLA School of Medicine for thirty years. Dr Weiss is the co-founder of the Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center and remains in private practice. He also spends part of his time writing and lecturing on healthcare in America.
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