Halcrow Foundation is funding a five-year project with Karuna Trust to strengthen maternity care in Nepal’s remote western region.
The project will ensure 300 vulnerable women and 1,000 children annually can access safe maternal, neonatal and child healthcare. An estimated 21,000 community members will indirectly benefit from improved services.
Lack of safe spaces
In Nepal, many women lack access to maternal healthcare due to social, economic and political barriers. This is especially true in the country’s remote western region where there is a lack of safe and hygienic spaces for birthing, antenatal care, postnatal care, child monitoring and the storage of medical supplies. Without access to essential laboratory and radiological services, mothers are unable to receive simple procedures like blood tests and ultrasound that prevent health issues and save lives. Limited awareness of these services also mean women are less likely to take them up, leading to additional health problems. Other challenges to maternal healthcare in remote regions include training health workers and repairing and maintaining medical equipment.
Birthing centres
We’re supporting a project that benefits women and children living in remote villages in Sudurpaschim Province. These women are marginalised by geography, wealth and education, and therefore less likely to access maternal healthcare. The project is implemented by non-governmental organisation Green Tara Nepal and includes refurbishing two birthing centres so they meet government standards. This will provide a safe and hygienic space that is fully supplied with equipment and medicines. Health workers will also receive refresher training on equipment use and safe birthing.
Raising awareness
A network of female community health volunteers will be formed to share good practice and plan how to deliver services more effectively. They will also raise awareness among men and women of the benefits of accessing professional maternal healthcare. Within the first two years, the project aims to increase the number of women who receive basic laboratory and ultrasound services at least once in their pregnancy, and empower them to make their own decisions about using birthing centre facilities.
To ensure the project’s goals are sustained beyond five years, Green Tara Nepal, supported by Karuna Trust, will work with rural municipalities to ensure health budgets are managed to meet women’s needs over the long term.
Photo credit: Karuna Trust
