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.”