Give the Gift of Safe Births this Holiday Season

Achieving skilled attendance at every birth has emerged as a global priority, and women in high-risk regions are increasingly being encouraged to deliver in health facilities. This challenge is particularly acute in remote rural areas around the world. One Heart's Network of Safety model addresses the barriers that limit access to quality maternal and neonatal healthcare services at all levels of the existing local healthcare infrastructure, reducing the risk of maternal and neonatal deaths. We effect sustainable and long-term systemic changes based on an integration of local resources, local government officials, national policy makers, local communities and local healthcare providers, while respecting cultural norms and practices.  

There are currently 35 under-served districts in Nepal where the maternal and neonatal mortality rate is anywhere between 2 to 5 times higher than the national average. Currently, OHW is working to reduce these rates in five of these districts. Our 2016 New Year's Resolution is to expand to four additional districts. The funds raised from this project will be used on:  

• Health education programs for medical providers: One Heart World-Wide implements training packages for healthcare providers in the community, primary healthcare facilities and referral hospitals to provide knowledge and skills to better manage the most common conditions of pregnancy/childbirth and newborns. These training packages include newborn care, birth preparedness, infections prevention training as well as skilled birth attendant training and advanced training programs for hospital staff. This approach rationalizes training along a continuum of care; from pregnancy through the newborn period and from the household level to the referral hospital level.
• Health facility improvement: One Heart World-Wide upgrades the infrastructure, medical equipment and staffing of existing healthcare facilities to establish a network of certified birthing centers in strategic locations. In addition, we upgrade the referral hospitals into facilities where comprehensive emergency obstetric care can be accessed.
• Community empowerment and health education for families: One Heart World-Wide integrates and empowers local stakeholders to become the drivers of change. Through community engagement activities, focus groups, collaboration with women’s groups and religious leaders we integrate community entrepreneurs at the grassroots level to design, implement and sustain the program. By working with local stakeholders, we empower local communities to own the program and be accountable for progress and sustainability.

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