Supporting frontline health worker in remote Nepal

PHASE Nepal operates in the remote and isolated regions of Nepal, offering crucial support in primary healthcare. This initiative seeks to safeguard the lives of healthcare and community workers by ensuring access to treatment in the event of potential infection and complications. Despite the challenges posed by global difficulty. PHASE Nepal continues to deliver essential services including primary healthcare, maternal care, livelihood improvement, and food security initiatives in Nepal's most underserved and distant areas.

PHASE Nepal aims to establish a sustainable emergency treatment fund, ensuring ongoing support for frontline workers and community facilitators in remote locales. This initiative not only guarantees uninterrupted healthcare provision but also facilitates long-term assistance, including emergency airlifting for complicated deliveries, strengthening the resilience of remote communities in health emergencies. And here we have the recent case of Putali Malal (name changed), a 30-year-old resident of Himali Rural Municipality, Ward 5, Bachhya Bajura.

She lives with her husband, daughter, and son, a family of four dependent on agriculture for livelihood. They rear 40 sheep for income. Putali, previously a member of a PHASE agriculture group, now primarily focuses on agriculture. Currently pregnant for the fifth time. She has two children and had miscarried two pregnancies in the past. Under government protocol, she underwent routine Antenatal Checkup (ANC) without any complications noted for both mother and fetus, exhibiting normal blood pressure and urine test results. She actively participated in PHASE Nepal's monthly ANC meetings.

 On 23 Feb 2024 Putali experienced discomfort and was transported via ambulance to Rugin Health Post. However, on route, she unexpectedly gave birth to a premature female baby, weighing 1500 grams, with visible burns on the right hand and neck, indicative of underdevelopment. Upon arrival at the health post, the infant received immediate oxygen therapy via a head box and was placed under a baby warmer to prevent hypothermia. The health coordinator of Himali Rural Municipality was promptly informed to arrange helicopter transfer to a higher medical facility, with support and guidance provided by PHASE central office. Despite stabilization efforts, the baby required ventilator support, prompting referral to Kolti Primary Health Center (PHC). Four days prior, Putali had fallen from a height due to slippery conditions, resulting in minor watery discharge, perceived as normal at the time. Unfortunately, the infant succumbed to complications later that day at Kolti PHC. The health of the mother is improving under the care of PHASE Nepal health staff.

Putali’s husband thanks the PHASE Nepal staff and says “I am very grateful to PHASE Nepal for your swift response and expert care during my wife's difficult delivery. Despite the loss of our baby, my wife survived. It is because of your support. Thank you for being there in during this challenging time.”

Dear Friends,

With your support and contribution, PHASE Nepal can continue its dedicated work to prioritize children's health through a comprehensive and integrated approach. Central to our strategy is the involvement of experienced frontline health workers conducting hands-on practical sessions in schools across PHASE's working areas. This report highlights the impactful school health education programs led by our skilled professionals, focusing on various aspects of children's well-being.

PHASE frontline health workers play an important role in implementing health education programs, engaging students of all levels in remote areas. Through practical demonstrations, health workers emphasize essential habits like handwashing, personal hygiene, and tooth brushing at the primary level. For secondary-level students, more advanced topics such as reproductive health, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and first aid topics are discussed.

The strength of our approach lies in the direct interaction between health workers and students. These professionals, with their experience, bring credibility and impact to health awareness initiatives. The face-to-face engagement fosters a sense of obligation among students to follow hygiene habits, knowing that these directives come from the same health workers they encounter at health posts.

Our programs address current health issues prevalent in both community and school settings. Regular activities, including deworming, child rights protection, and pad-making sessions, further enrich the educational experience for students. Through our school-based health education programs, we have observed improvements in the health practices of students. The emphasis on personal interactions with health workers has created a lasting impact, encouraging students to adopt and maintain healthier habits. The success of our approach is underscored by the positive response and active participation of students in various health-related activities.

As we continue this vital work, we express our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support. We seek your more support to expand our reach and make a lasting impact on the health of children in remote Nepal. Your generous contribution will not only enable us to sustain but also enhance these critical health education initiatives. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey.