One Heart World Wide (OHW) has completed the implementation phase of its
Network of Safety program in Dhading district.
OHW, who launched its
NoS for women and newborns program in Dhading district in 2015, officially announced that its program has entered into the transition phase in Dhading, amid a function organized to handover the program to District Health Office at the Dhading District Hospital on Sunday.
The function— organized to share the major achievements made in 1st and 2nd phase of NoS project (2015-2018); planned activities of OHW during the transition phase of its project; its coordination with the local government’s maternal and neonatal health programs and discuss on expected roles and responsibilities of the local government, District Health Office and concerned stakeholders for smooth transitioning out of project activities to improve the status of maternal and neonatal health in the district—was participated by District Health Coordinators from eleven rural municipalities and two municipalities, delegates from all the municipalities, District Health Office, District Coordination Committee, District Administration Office, Non-Governmental Organizations, NGO Federation and media.
OHW renovated 10 birthing centers, provided birthing center equipment to 52 health facilities and 13 community health units, trained 59 nursing staffs to be government certified Skilled Birth Attendants and supported 15 Primary Heath Care Outreach Clinics (PHCORC) with essential equipment.
Likewise, OHW also constructed two maternity waiting homes, provided lifesaving drugs to 52 health facilities, supported 13 municipalities with rural ultrasound machines, installed portable solar suitcases at 38 birthing centers, provided 1 phototherapy machine, organized 15 ultrasound trainings, trained 1,452 Health Facility Operation and Management Committee and other concerned stakeholders, organized numerous community level awareness campaigns on maternity health and childbirth.
OHW was one of the first organizations on the ground and responding to healthcare needs during earthquake in 2015. OHW installed 36 birthing tents to ensure women have safe and hygienic childbirth during earthquake, organized five mobile health camps serving thousands of people during emergency, supported all the health facilities with mobile phones for ease of communication and epidemic reporting.
District health coordinators from 11 rural municipalities and two municipalities presented health programs from their respective region and how they plan incorporate OHW’s program activities with utmost importance.
“We believe and confident that OHW’s program activities and innovation will improve MNH status in the district. We will be incorporating these activities with our health programs and working on to run them in the most effective module. We have planned to allocate the considerable amount of the total budget on these activities. Investment on rural ultrasound, outreach clinics and skill development have high priorities in our program,” said Durga Kumar Shakya, Chairperson of Netrawati Rural Municipality, representing all the municipalities.
In recognition to its contribution in the maternal and neonatal health, Health Office Dhading, felicitated OHW with a certificate of appreciation and assured that the local government of Dhading will incorporate OHW’s program in its maternal and neonatal health programs to achieve further progress.
District Coordination Committee Chief, Jagannath Nepal praised the decision of OHW to keep a technical staff during the transition phase as well.
OHW’s contribution towards improving maternal and neonatal health status in Dhading has been commendable. The issue of maternal and newborn health has got notable space on local government’s health program, indicating the issue being on their high priority. OHW’s two- year transition phase after its active activity implementation phase with one technical staff in the district and local government’s commitment in MNCH area would be supportive towards program sustainability,” he said.
Lauding the work of OHW in the district, Chief District Officer for Dhading, Bhagirath Pandey said that the work of OHW has played an important role towards improving the state of maternal and neonatal health in the district by improving the infrastructure, training programs and community awareness programs.
“Putting first the health of women and children in its mission, vision and objectives, OHW has contributed a lot in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes in Dhading district,” he said.
Likewise, Chief Heath Education Administrator at Ministry of Health and Population, Maheshwore Shrestha, said that OHW has played an important role in improving the MNCH service in other districts as well.
“I got an opportunity to work closely with OHW for 5 years and 5 months in Baglung and Dhading. OHW’s support in birthing center renovation, birthing centre equipment, MNCH service quality and capacity building of service providers has been remarkable. It is great that a technical staff will be positioned in the district in its 2-year transition phase period for technical support and activity follow ups. I anticipate OHW to continue to continue coordination and collaboration with the local government and district health office for smooth transitioning out,” he said.
OHW currently works in the 12 districts of Nepal aiming to improve access and quality of maternal newborn health in the remote, rural areas.
OHW’s Program Director, Surya Bhatta shared that Dhading has been a model district in OHW’s project implementation and praised the commitment shown by the local government to integrate its program with their health program as well.
Dhading has been a model district in OHW project implementation. I am delighted to know local government’s being responsive and committed towards maternal and newborn health. In transition phase, OHW will continue following up activities at health facility and community level and provide technical support to the local government in formulating MNCH related activity and budget plan. Let us all endeavor towards actions that can improve access to quality health care for women and children that leads to no maternal and neonatal death in the district,” he said.
