New Lives in Thin Air  

In partnership with Himalayan Health & Environmental Services Solukhumbu (HHESS) and the Government of Nepal with complementary support from the Department for International Development

This is a 3 year pilot project to improve newborn and maternal health. It covers the entire district of Solukhumbu in the mountainous east of Nepal - a population of about 115,000 spread across a remote area (takes about 3 to 4 days to walk across).

The project supports government health workers to deliver a home-visiting antenatal and postnatal service to all pregnant women and newborns in the district, and encourages increased rates of skilled attendance at delivery as well as increased rates of delivery in a health post or hospital.

Approximately 4,800 pregnant women and 4,800 newborn babies are expected to directly benefit each year from the project and the impact on these families and their communities will be substantial.

Evidence will be collected on a continual basis and we have worked closely with the government to revise and develop reporting formats that can be used both in Solukhumbu and also in other districts (something that government is now considering).

This is a large project with many challenges, but we are hopeful that this pilot will generate strong evidence that the model is both effective and an efficient method of restructuring how maternal care can be delivered in these remote areas. The costs are within government budgetary range should the pilot demonstrate sufficient benefits and outcome, and the methods will already be absorbed into government practice by way of the pilot.

CWS is providing financial, project design, and data support within this three way partnership.