Supporting frontline health worker in remote Nepal

Dear Friends, with your support and contribution we are able to continue our work to provide health service. Although the risk of COVID-19 is still there, our health workers have now fully resumed their regular work in the field now focusing on providing mainstream primary healthcare services in remote areas. All of our health staff have been vaccinated with at least two doses and looking to get further doses by exploring the government's vaccination plans. In this issue, we would like to share with you the amazing results that these dedicated health staff are bringing, working intensively in the remote areas of Nepal. 

PHASE Nepal has been identifying malnutrition cases in the project area. From January to March of 2023, a total of 21 children (12 females and 9 male) were identified and supported with the nutritious food package. The food package includes rice 5 kg, wheat 5 kg, and soybean 5 kg, 500 gram ghee. Also, the project field team taught the mother of children how to prepare nutritious food (super flour). The staff will continuously follow and measure the status of children.

Lina Thapa (Name changed) is a 27 years old mother, who lives with her family. They belong to poor economic backgrounds. Her family is dependent on agricultural activities for meeting their daily needs. Besides, her husband also worked as a wage worker to add on their family income. She is a mother of three children. 

Her first son is seven years old and studies in class- two in public school. Her second son is 37 months old and her third son was born in April, 2022 weighted 3200 grams at PHASE supported health post. 

When PHASE Nepal started the project at Bichhya in 2017, her eldest son was diagnosed with malnutrition. Then, she was counseled by the PHASE staff, to prepare super flour with local ingredients and feed the baby frequently. She was encouraged to maintain personal hygiene and her son was followed up each month during home visits for growth monitoring.

She remembers, “In 2-3 months my child showed positive change. He started to gain weight and looked healthy. I learned to feed my baby according to their age, starting from super-flour, soft foods with mixed green vegetables, meat and eggs. This helped me a lot as a new mother then.”

She shared, “With continuous service from PHASE, the health service at our village has improved a lot, and otherwise most of the time health workers were difficult to access. Now, it has become convenient for us.”

She further remembers how her journey from her first pregnancy to third has improved, “My first pregnancy was a different experience. I didn’t know what to do and not. I simply gave birth. But with the PHASE team in our community, from my second pregnancy with their guidance my journey is much more comfortable and well prepared. I have followed health requirements like vaccination during pregnancy, taking iron tablets, maintaining bedrest and taking a balanced diet.

My first pregnancy was on God's faith and the last two were on the faith of PHASE health workers. My second and third sons were delivered at the PHASE supported health post. At my village itself, I did a pregnancy test from a urine test, otherwise we had to go to Kolti or Martadi, mostly women from our village would never go due to the high cost for traveling.

I also did a hemoglobin test and regular urine test to check on other body conditions during pregnancy. I have been continuing monthly antenatal check ups where they checked my whole body and also the position of my baby, taking medications that support development of the baby and attending monthly meetings. After completing the ANC cycle and delivering at the Health post I also received Rs. 1500 from the government.”

Her elder and middle son are growing well. Their growth monitoring was among the healthiest children in her village. Last year, her two years old middle child was able to win in a healthy baby competition and received prizes (washing soap, bathing soap, and vegetable oil) as appreciation for his mother’s effort.

She shares, “Before PHASE Nepal came to our village, our focus was only to meet our daily needs. We didn’t know the importance of green vegetables, we would eat if it was available in the season, otherwise just eat to fill our stomach with what is available.

Now, the time is different, we have PHASE health and livelihood people who visit us to make us aware and share what we should do for a healthy life especially for child and pregnant women. We also produce a variety of green vegetables in season as off season with use of poly-house. We can reach the health post for any sort of illness and take medicines. We learned to eat for health and reach the Health post for illness and medicines.”

We would like to thank you and assure you that the donations that you have made have been put to the intended purposes and same in the future too. We thank you for your continued support and hope for future too.

PHASE Nepal Team

Dear Friends,

We are all aware of the significant negative effects the coronavirus has had on each of our lives. The pandemic's impact on the vital supply chain during the past few years has altered the global accessibility of essential items. The impact has been felt in Nepal's most needy districts, including Humla, Bajura, Mugu, Gorkha, and Sindhupalchok, where access to basic healthcare services has ever been limited.

Yet, since the epidemic began, we have been able to continue providing both emergency and essential health services thanks to your unwavering support. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, your support has been ongoing, and we genuinely appreciate it.

As of right now, the COVID-19 pandemic has been controlled by the usage of vaccines. But, the Himalayan communities with their scarce resources have a great need to be prepared for various types of epidemics. Thanks to your help, we have been able to reach the community while still feeling secure and motivated.

Recently, the PHASE health team was able to manage an epidemic in three communities in the Himalayas.

An outbreak of viral fever was handled quickly by our team at the PHASE project site in Mugu, Jime. They were successful in notifying the Rural Municipality and local health workers of the fever outbreak in a timely manner. They went on a community visit with them. Where 86 members of the community in all were discovered to be unwell. They were given medications and instructed to maintain personal cleanliness and a balanced diet.

Similarly, school children were falling ill at a nearby school in Sindhupalchok, Baruwa community. The PHASE health staff was contacted by the school administration. As PHASE team reached to conduct the checkup, more than 17 children with fever, colds, and coughs were found and 5 of them were severely ill. The children were treated for the symptoms. Parents and school administration were counseled over the issue. Now the situation is under control.

Likewise at Humla, several sick children were recorded in the community of Jair. Our team visited the community, where a total of 25 children were discovered to be measles infections. In accordance with their symptoms, they were treated. Parents and the school management team decided to close the school till things got better after hearing about the scenario. As a result, the spread of measles in the community was controlled.

In this way, our team has been playing pivot steps to maintain essential and emergency health services at Nepal’s most remote communities.

From last Nov. 2022- Jan. 2023, our frontline workers have been able to provide 193 safe deliveries and reach 11,174 people for medical consultation on various illnesses at PHASE supported 12 health posts. Where 1,636 children under the age of five receive treatment for life-threatening illnesses such as fever, diarrhea, and pneumonia. 12,532 community people were engaged in various community orientations and training for personal hygiene family health, and maternal and child health.  Our staff was able to provide primary health care and 24-hour emergency service.

PHASE Nepal is committed, as always, to the safety of its team members. Adequate supplies were maintained at each location and every staff is advised to use personal protective equipment while making patient consultations for infection prevention.  All of our work would not have been possible without the kind contribution of our donors like you. We really appreciate your willingness to ultimately empower Himalayan frontline health workers during the pandemic.

PHASE Nepal Team