Saving lives, one birth at a time

Early summer in Dolpa is when the majority of people there participate in the Yarchagumba harvest. Yarchagumba is a caterpillar fungus found only within a specific elevation range in parts of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas that is highly coveted for its medicinal benefits. Dolpa is one of the few places that this precious fungus grows and as such, it is one of the area's most lucrative crops.

While many people have been occupied by the hard work that the season entails, OHW has been able to accomplish some great things over the past few months. Here are a few highlights:

• Our new Program Coordinator and Field Supervisor for Dolpa successfully reached the field site where they will be based, completing a full staff complement for the district

• 18 Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) received a four-day refresher training on Maternal and Neonatal Health

• Five more refresher trainings have been planned for Upper Dolpa, which will train 45 additional FCHV and 20 Amchis (traditional healers)

• Birthing center renovations have begun for two new birthing centers in Phoksundo and Saldang! (Construction materials have been purchased, plans have been further developed, and agreements with collaborating teams have been signed)

• A solar power system was installed at the Dho Tarap birthing center

• In May, Nepal Program Director, Surya Bhatta was able to attend the Women Deliver Conference in Kuala Lampur along with One Heart Mexico's Executive Director and 4,500 other advocates, policymakers, researchers and others working for women's health and empowerment from 149 countries worldwide - returning to Nepal with new ideas, resources, and partnerships that will serve to further the development of our projects. 

Once the harvest is complete, the local teams will be able to start more extensive renovations on the birthing centers and planned trainings will begin, including training for the treatment Pelvic Organ Prolapse as part of a newer program we are implementing in partnership with another NGO, Karuna Shechen. We are exciting for what the next few months will bring!

In other news – two of our project’s photos have been chosen as finalists for the Photo Contest! You can find our photos under the "Give Relief" catergory. Find one (or both!) marked with our project name "Saving lives, one birth at a time" and vote by entering your email address! Voting begins on Monday, July 15^th so please check back between then and July 31^st to vote and PLEASE share with your networks! The photo with the most votes by noon (Eastern) on July 31st will win.

Thanks from everyone at One Heart World-Wide!