Supporting frontline health worker in remote Nepal

During the devastating second wave last year, hundreds of people lost their life in Nepal. This time, the majority of health care workers were also infected. Resulting, shortage of medical staff in Nepal.

Our frontline health workers who serve in remote areas were also infected, but fortunately, they had only mild symptoms. PHASE Nepal is committed, as always, to the safety of its team members. Adequate supplies were maintained at each location and every staff were advised to use the personal protective equipment while making patient consultation to infection prevention. All PHASE staff are got full set of COVID vaccination.

The situation in Nepal is improving after the third wave of crisis. For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, local governments have begun the training for frontline workers.

PHASE frontline workers received an refresher training on essential nutrition, where they practiced preparing a diet with local ingredients. Nine PHASE health workers completed a two-month long Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA) training organized at the Maternity Hospital in Kathmandu following the national health curriculum.

After the training, one of our ANM who has been practicing maternal and child care in various areas of Bajura, Humla and Mugu for more than 5 years shares, “Our training was on hold past two years due to the pandemic. It was finally possible. With this opportunity to train at the national maternity hospital, I learned a lot about saving the lives of mothers and babies. I am more confident that I will be able to provide the right diagnosis, calmly manage the situations and make timely referral decisions.”

Even in the midst of the epidemic, our front-line health workers have continued primary health care and emergency services in Nepal's most remote districts. Thank you for your continued support. Our team's confidence in continuing to save the lives of underprivileged communities is intact as a result of your contribution.

In the last four months, our frontline workers (21 Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery, 3 Staff Nurses, 4 Health Assistants, and local social mobilizers) have been able to provide 133 safe deliveries in remote areas of Humla, Bajura, Mugu, and earthquake-affected districts Gorkha and Sindhupalchok, including 7 complicated deliveries such as retained placenta, prolonged postpartum hemorrhage, breech with footing, and twin delivery.

In addition, 17,166 cases were treated, with 2,884 children under the age of five receiving treatment for life-threatening illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia. Local residents were encouraged to practice healthy habits through 1,430 community events. Our staff was able to provide primary health care and 24-hour emergency service, as well as provide community members with information on how to respond appropriately throughout the pandemic.

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.

This October PHASE Nepal health workers took essential training with physical presence for the first time, after the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic almost after 2 years. The staff reinforced their knowledge and skills on psychosocial counseling, installing contraception implants, attending safe deliveries as well as providing palliative care. Most of all the staff were further oriented on providing the best possible health services while maintaining the most strict infection prevention procedures. 

" It's really great to have met in the group and received training after nearly two years. We are committed to providing the best possible primary health care services in the remote communities while being safe from and keeping others safe from the COVID-19 infection", shares an Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (serving in Mugu), age 29.

The availability of health staff right in the field area enabled PHASE to quickly plan and execute the activities responding to the Covid-19 impact for the last one and a half year. During this course, the PHASE Health team has been supporting in screening, antigen testing, isolating, providing emergency medicine as well as supporting in vaccinations, and running health desks. By now PHASE Nepal has supported several emergency materials along with providing 24/7 services via field health staff.

At present, 23 oxygen concentrators of 10-liter capacity, 4 sets of petrol engine generators to run concentrators in the remote, 80 sets of pulse oxymeters 1000s of sets of masks, sanitizers, and emergency medicines have been supported by PHASE in the neediest locations. The equipment and materials will serve to provide safety and emergency care to the staff themselves as well as the community members when needed.

PHASE Nepal frontline staff have the dual responsibility of responding to the pandemic as well as ensuring quality primary health service in the supported communities at present. All this work has been possible only because of the generous support from our donors like you. We thank you wholeheartedly for joining hand to ultimately empower the most marginalized communities of Nepal Himalaya via quality healthcare services.