Protecting the Next Generation - Innovative and Low Cost Approaches to Essential maternal and Newborn Care  

In partnership with PHASE Nepal

Our aim: to reduce maternal and newborn vulnerability to common health threats, through increased access to care during pregnancy, improved safety of deliveries, and improved health protection and care practices

Who are we helping?

Pregnancy and childbirth is a dangerous period for women and babies in Nepal, and the country has some of the worst maternal and child health indicators in South Asia.  Infant mortality varies widely between regions, from 37 per 1,000 live births in urban areas, to 64 in rural areas, and 99 in mountain regions.

We are supporting pregnant women, mothers, and babies from rural communities in Prok and Bihi, two of the most remote areas in the North Gorkha District.  These mountainous areas are 4-5 days travel away from the nearest significant health facility.  Government health infrastructure has been damaged by a decade of civil conflict, the rural location makes it difficult to retain health workers, access to appropriate advice is limited, and there is virtually no access to emergency care.

What are we doing to help?

We are working in partnership with PHASE Nepal, a Nepalese organisation which aims to collaborate with and complement local government health services and communities.  For this project, PHASE-supported health workers are assigned to government health posts, to support existing government health staff, who are in many cases absent, few, or de-motivated.  PHASE health workers spend half their time at the health post, delivering general and maternal services there.  The other half is spent providing outreach health services and supporting community health initiatives, particularly focused on antenatal and maternal care, and child health.  Through this approach, PHASE is using and guiding government health workers and infrastructure to work differently.  Supporting communities next to two other areas where PHASE is already active, will develop a complementary health infrastructure that brings positive benefits to the government health workers and the communities in this district.