Kathmandu, Jan. 16 -- Pregnant women in Karnali province in farwestern Nepal have been forced to walk longer for delivery services, as the province has far less birthing centre coverage than other provinces.

The lack of accessible birthing centres puts women's lives at risk, especially during emergencies like complicated deliveries. Without better-equipped birthing centres and a strong referral system, many women and newborns in Karnali, one of the most remote provinces, face preventable dangers every day, experts say.

According to a preliminary report on a recent national-level assessment of birthing centres providing C-section deliveries, conducted by the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services, the service del...