Husbands to be allowed into labour rooms

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will implement a popular and globally accepted concept in connection with child birth. Under this new concept husbands will be allowed to stay with their wives during child birth for the first time in State hospitals.

This new facility is available at the Elpitiya hospital now.

Separate rooms have been built at this hospital for both pregnant mothers and their husbands. The fathers are allowed to come and stay with the mother during delivery as well as before and after the delivery, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

"This concept will help fathers to understand the challenge and pain mothers face during child birth and will also foster a stronger bond between husband and wife.

The Ministry had plans to implement this concept long before, but the lack of funds prevented the Ministry from implementing this concept in Sri Lankan hospitals.

Some local private hospitals allow fathers in, but the majority of ordinary parents cannot bear high charges of such hospitals to enjoy this facility.

This popular and healthy concept is practised in many foreign countries.