A new birthing center: A tribute to our friend and colleague, Mr. Rajesh Shrestha

By Naresh Newar

Geizing Sherpa tries hard to control her tears during her speech to health service providers and local community and ward leaders who had gathered to inaugurate the renovated government birthing center in the remote Pangu Bhudeu village. The renovation was supported by One Heart Worldwide donors to help Bethanchowk Palika (rural municipality) rebuild their birthing center on a cost-sharing basis. 

“I’m so honored that OHW has dedicated its support for the birthing centre in loving memory of my husband.”

Ms. Sherpa speaking to health service providers and ward officials in Bethanchowk Palika.

What really touched Ms. Sherpa the most was how OHW had honored her late husband Mr. Rajesh Shrestha, who was the Finance Manager at OHW. He was met with sudden death in 2021 and left OHW staff, his wife, Geizing, and two children in complete shock. The family struggled to cope with his loss and tried hard to move on. The support to build the birthing center is dedicated to his memory as a valuable staff member who was admired and respected because of his dedication toward OHW and his close-knit friendship with the team.

“The past year has not been the easiest for my children and me. In these hard times, many offered help for support, but the most significant one was from OHW. Today, I have no words to express how grateful I am towards OHW,” said Ms Sherpa, sharing her thoughts during the inauguration on August 17, 2022.

Located in the remote Bethanchowk Palika (rural municipality) of Kavrepalanchok district, Pangu Bhudeu is like many other remote villages in the country that even many Nepalis have not heard of. People here live in hardship, especially the economically and historically marginalized communities. The terrain is so difficult and fragile that transportation is available only once a year, as most roads are often destroyed during monsoon season leaving lasting, devastating impacts. 

The only access to health services are through the rural health posts run by the Palika, which often struggles to find resources to be able to provide quality care. It is always against this backdrop that OHW targets such areas to help local government and community improve the local health services, especially for the mothers and their babies who are most at risk.

A new birthing center gives hopes for improving MNH care services in the remote Panga Bhudev village. The renovation of the birthing center was jointly invested by Bethanchowk Municipality and OHW on a cost-sharing basis.

Since programs commenced in Pangu Bhudeu in 2020, OHW collaboration with the local community members has brought a lot of improvements by building capacity of local health service providers, especially the nurses and Female Health Care Volunteers. OHW’s field team has helped in the quality improvement process and management training for the health post team. 

In 2021, OHW offered support to rebuild the birthing center on a cost-sharing basis for construction with 50% contribution provided by Bethanchowk Palika.

“OHW’s legacy is growing for creating a quality MNH system in rural municipalities and our best reward is to see how this has been helping to save the lives of so many mothers and babies,” says Nagendra Jung Shahi, OHW’s Field Officer in Kavrepalanchok.

Mr. Shahi shares how there has already seen a big transformation. The majority of families in the community had to travel to Dhulikhel Hospital - a journey that typically takes more than three hours on off-road vehicles - but most of them could not afford the price of the journey or the vehicles were not easily available. 

The new birthing center has been a big relief for the local community.

“This is a moment to treasure and is a great honor dedicating the support of Pangu Bhudeu Birthing Center in the name of my husband,” says Ms. Sherpa.

Surya Bhatta, Executive Director of OHW in Nepal, recalls how Mr. Shrestha always offered solutions when needed and was promoted to the position of finance manager for his professionalism. 

He shares how the employees are OHW’s greatest assets. Their contributions have helped to grow OHW into a valuable institution to provide support to Nepal by improving the quality of MNH services in rural Nepal. 

“Mr. Rajesh was not just a very good manager but also known for his humility, someone with value and integrity. He was part of our family and although he has passed away, his legacy is still alive at OHW and honoring him was a noble way to institutionalize our memories of him forever,” says Mr. Bhatta.