Karnali Province’s challenges for better healthcare, particularly maternal and neonatal, have intensified after the devastating earthquake on November 3, 2023. One Heart Worldwide’s team has been on the ground, taking every step necessary to re-establish quality services and ensure safe pregnancies and motherhood care.

In the remote Nepali village of Terang, Paljum’s journey embodies resilience and transformation in the face of adversity. Struggling with profound loss due to limited maternal healthcare, Paljum's story mirrors the challenges of many in her community. Through the collaborative efforts of the Women Empowerment Centre and One Heart Worldwide, Paljum's path shifted from vulnerability to empowerment. Her decision to embrace informed choices reshaped the narrative of maternal health in Terang. Paljum stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing the profound impact of knowledge, support, and community engagement in fostering healthier futures for mothers and children in underserved regions.

In 2021, OHW initiated our transformative maternal and neonatal health program in Nepal's Sarlahi District, addressing a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals. Through strategic partnerships, OHW revamped infrastructure, enhanced community awareness, and transformed chaotic birthing centers into safe, well-managed facilities, earning appreciation from local governments. The tangible transformations vividly showcase OHW's success in improving maternal and neonatal healthcare in Sarlahi, highlighting the significant impact of their initiatives.

Why Behavioral change is essential to improving safe motherhood practices

In the Madhesh Province, One Heart Worldwide strives to empower rural mothers with safe motherhood practices. In Bara District, our efforts face challenges in shifting deep-seated social behaviors and attitudes. A poignant incident in Thulo Lautan village reveals that mothers-in-law often shape maternal health decisions, highlighting the need for trust-building and holistic approaches to promote safe motherhood in underserved communities.

In the snow-covered villages of Dolpa, where winter isolates remote communities, courageous women like Dawa face dire challenges during pregnancy. Struggling with limited access to healthcare and family planning, they often bear their burdens in silence. But dedicated field officers from organizations like One Heart Worldwide and WEC are making a difference, providing crucial support and education to empower mothers and save lives in Nepal's high Himalayan regions.

In a groundbreaking international webinar held on August 22, 2023, Nepal emerged as a shining example in the global fight against maternal and child mortality. The event, hosted by One Heart Worldwide, garnered praise from global health experts, including Dr. Kirsten Meisinger, who highlighted Nepal's success in contrast to rising maternal mortality rates in the United States and Europe. With One Heart Worldwide's unwavering commitment to rural communities, Nepal has not only made remarkable strides but also become a beacon of hope in the worldwide context of maternal and child health.

Myagdi District in Gandaki Province is a breathtaking destination adorned with beautiful mountains and hills, attracting nature tourists, especially mountain climbers and trekkers. After a three-hour drive from the renowned city of Pokhara, one arrives at the district's well-developed business hub, Beni Bazar. The town offers a splendid view of the Dhaulagiri mountain range, home to revered peaks like Annapurna, Nilgiri, Churain, Manapathi, and Gurja. This is where One Heart works to improve access to maternal and neonatal healthcare.

Dr. Kirsten Meisinger, a compassionate family medicine physician, shares her journey of transforming healthcare on an international scale. With a passion for patient-centered care, she spearheads team-based systems that enhance the efficiency and quality of primary care. Now, as the Board Chair of One Heart Worldwide, Dr. Meisinger continues her mission to save lives and promote maternal health in Nepal, bridging cultures and making a lasting impact.

The challenging roads of Baglung couldn't deter Arlene Samen and her team from reaching Narayansthan, where a woman in labor needed urgent medical attention. In the absence of an ambulance, the community rallied together, carrying the expectant mother on a stretcher, braving the cliff's daunting path. This experience compelled the One Heart team to establish Nepal's first birthing center, and since then, One Heart Worldwide has positively impacted over one million mothers and newborns across 32 districts, with plans to expand further.

In the remote district of Dolpa, Liku Health Post is undergoing a remarkable transformation with the support of OHW/WEC. Through improved equipment, training, and collaborative efforts, Liku Health Post is enhancing maternal and neonatal healthcare, ensuring early detection of high-risk pregnancies and achieving zero home deliveries in the past three years, bringing hope and better health outcomes to the local community.

In the small municipality of Haripur in Sarlahi District, Nurse Shrijana became a beacon of hope for Laxmi, a young expectant mother fighting against the grips of severe pre-eclampsia. Armed with knowledge gained from a recent SBMP training program and the support of the MNH Helpline, Nurse Shrijana swiftly sprang into action to save both the lives of Laxmi and her unborn child. The collaborative efforts of the nursing staff, along with the invaluable guidance from medical experts, showcased the transformative power of teamwork and expert care.

Karnali Province captivates with its breathtaking landscapes, but beneath the natural beauty lies a tale of underserved populations and infrastructure challenges. Collaborating with local NGOs, OHW has aimed to strengthen the government's health initiatives. The partnership approach with local governments proved successful, paving the way for cost-sharing and improved budget planning. Our engagement extended to community health workers, nurses, and NGO partners, aiming to build a sustainable and equitable healthcare system for all, even in the most remote areas.

One Heart Worldwide (OHW) initiated a program in Madhesh Province, Nepal, with the aim of creating a sustainable maternal and neonatal healthcare system. We collaborate with the Government of Nepal, implement cost-sharing agreements with local municipalities, and provide training to health workers to build their capacity.

Local government efforts and investments in Sankhuwasabha are helping to work towards a strengthened health system with the support of One Heart Worldwide.

For rural communities in Dolpa, one of Nepal’s most remote districts, quality healthcare for mothers and babies is often a huge challenge. One Heart Worldwide is helping the local government in the rural municipalities of the district to help improve maternal and neonatal health services.

As one of the youngest staff at the One Heart Worldwide Nepal office, 25-year-old Nikita is contributing to our work as the Training and Field Supervisor in Sarlahi District of the Madhesh Province, which lies in the south of Nepal, close to the border with India. Trained as a professional nurse, Nikita has been helping government nurses in rural health facilities by enhancing their nursing skills and knowledge specifically in maternity and neonatal care. With her team in Sarlahi, Nikita has contributed towards providing quality care for mothers and babies who belong to the most marginalized communities.

As one of the newest staff members of OHW, Lok Mani Giri joined us in August 2022 as the District Coordinator of Rukum West. This is one of our most recent program districts in Karnali Province. An experienced public health professional for the past 10 years, Lok is also a registered Laboratory Technician. He has academic degrees in Public Health from Nepal, and in Global Health from Denmark. Lok is already on the ground in his duty station representing OHW contributing to efforts of local governments to bring quality MNH care to rural communities. He shares his experiences working with OHW.

In August 2021, the One Heart team lost one of our dear colleagues, Mr. Rajesh Shrestha. A year later, his wife Geizing, spoke at the inauguration of an upgraded birthing center that was dedicated to her late husband.

OHW launched its program in Madhesh Province this year. Madhesh Province is a province in the southeastern region of Nepal that was formed after the adoption of the Constitution of Nepal. It is Nepal's most populous province, and smallest province by area. The challenges of working here are different to other provinces we have previously worked in but there are also many opportunities to make a difference in Nepal’s maternal care services.

Nepali nurses working in rural government health facilities often lack much-needed skills and knowledge and they need professional guidance consistently. Poor knowledge affects both their confidence and self-esteem hampering their work as service providers. This is where the OHW team is making a difference in rural Nepal. I met Nurse Manju who is an example of how life as a nurse has transformed with our support so that she can serve rural mothers and babies. Her story taught me a lot about how a little help can bring a great change.