"We have received BPP/MISO training long back provided by One Heart World-Wide, still we recall the knowledge which we had gained for saving the life of mother from PPH. This has helped us counsel our mothers to encourage the institutional delivery and use the miso tablets for the mothers who deliver in home in order to prevent from PPH.

We monthly discuss with our mothers group and include the topic of the safe-motherhood so that the mothers move to the health facility for the delivery and become aware of the complications related to it."

~ Parwata Shrestha, FCHV, Bhojpur, 2017

"I have been referring the mothers to the birthing centres, same was the case of Nai Kumari Rai, who delivered her 3rd baby in the birthing centre, from where she could receive nyano jhola and had better delivery facilities, conducted by trained nursing staff.

I am very happy that by being a FCHV I can reach towards the mother and help them deliver the relevant information which I had collected from the trainings like BPP/MISO. We need to upgrade this knowledge time and again, so that we deliver the valid and reliable information."

~ Ram Kala Rai, FCHV, Nagi, Tiwaribhangyang, Arun Rural Municipality, 2017

“Compared to before, home delivery in Panchthar is on the decreasing trend. We have good services at the District Hospital and accessibility of road with other districts, in case of referrals, is comparatively better than other surrounding remote districts. Number of birthing centers in the villages are also increasing. One Heart World-Wide has been collaborating with us to uplift the quality of maternal and neonatal health services in the district by renovation and upgrading of infrastructures, equipment support and valuable training for health workers and stakeholders. This has contributed to the improving services as compared to before. We hope for the same level of support and collaboration with OHW in the coming days. We recently came with a new plan and target, focusing improving the service of remote health facilities, for which the support of OHW is essential.”

~ Dr. Pawan Kumar Shah, District Health Officer and Medical Superintendent, DHO, Paanchthar, 2018

“One of the biggest challenges we face is that Baglung is a big district with vastly scattered settlements. It’s challenging to cover all these scattered districts. The intervention of OHW, especially in terms of the essential equipment they have provided, training for health workers and local stakeholders, and community-level activities has been the biggest in improving the maternal and neonatal health situation in Baglung.“

~ Deepak Prasad Tiwari, Senior Public Health Administrator, DHO, Baglung, 2018

“The indicators of safe motherhood have been improving in Terhathum district. Compared from last few years, number of institutional delivery is on the rise while home delivery is decreasing. Number of birthing centers and CONC sites in the district has increased and the trend will continue. The capacity of the district to conduct surgical deliveries and handling complicated cases has improved. The positive changes is an outcome of OHW’s collaboration with the District Health Office and support it has been providing to DHO for improving maternal and neonatal health services in the district. Renovation and upgrading of birthing centers, equipment support and training given by OHW will have a positive impact in future. OHW is piloting its new project Drug Supply Chain in our district. We are glad about that. I think technology will have big part to play in improving the overall health sector.”

~ Dr. Mukti Narayan Shah, District Health Officer, DHO Terhathum, 2018

“One Heart Worldwide provided lifesaving equipment, medicines and supplies swiftly to our birthing center without any delay after a needs assessment of our district hospital. As an SBA of District Hospital, Taplejung, I would like to thank One Heart Worldwide for such support and wish good luck.”

~ Om Kumari Gurung, SBA, District Hospital, Taplejung, 2016

“I want to communicate better with my patients and provide quality service at best level. Quality services can be only offered if we have right skills and enough resources. Before One Heart started working with us, we didn’t have sufficient equipment and well trained SBAs hence, encountered several difficulties. Now, the situation is different. We participated several lifesaving trainings like Postpartum, Eclampsia, Pre-eclampsia management training, refreshers in recent updates in well-equipped lab, rural USG trainings, Skilled Birth Attendant training helped us to sharpen the hands-on skills and built the confidence. That has reduced referrals to the higher centers and more women can access the service locally. Furthermore, we have also learned to use the local resources to manage the complication like use of Condom Tamponade to treat postpartum hemorrhage. This wouldn’t be possible without One Heart Worldwide support.”

~ Bishnu Risal (Simkhada), Senior Nurse and SBA, District Hospital, Dhading, 2016

“Delivering at the Health Center was easy. I had not received such care while delivering at home. I gave birth to 3 of my children at home but delivered the newest addition at the closest Health Post at 4:30am. Luckily, the Health Post had solar light installed that was used to light the room throughout the night.”

~ Mrs. Anita Ramtel, Post-natal Mother, Sunaula Bazzar, 2016

“The training that was provided for Birth Preparedness Package with MISO by One Heart Worldwide has supported us to work more effectively in community. I have been able to counsel pregnant mother about Misoprostal tablet (MISO Tab) and Chlorohexidine gel (CHX Gel), which was new for me. Also, I have provided Miso tab and CHX gel to two pregnant women, which were provided by One Heart World-Wild during training.”

~ Tara Devi Shrestha, FCHV, Chautara, 2017

“I would like to thank One Heart Worldwide for providing Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV) motivation kits to all FCHVs of Sindhupalchowk. We feel proud to carry this bag given by One Heart World-Wide as it shows the uniformity and marks the identification of FCHV even while we are not in our regular dress. This bag has enough space to keep the drugs or essential materials during our visit to pregnant mothers, lactating mother and child. It is so comfortable to carry during our field visits.”

~ Ambika Dhungana, FCHV, Sipapokhare VDC, 2017

“What is needed now is to have considerable demand for action in order to implement this serious issue into the public consciousness and onto the political agenda.”

~ Mr. Shalik Ram Banjara, Palika Chairperson of Barahpokhari Rural Municipality.

"We were having a tough time managing Walankha Birthing Center because the facility was in dire need of renovation. Though we had allocated a budget for the facility management, the full upgrade that was needed was too much for our annual budget because of other priorities like road repair and drinking water. We were very delighted to know that One Heart Worldwide was willing to help us upgrade the birthing center. We were happy to contribute 35% for the renovation from the budget of our Walankha Rural Municipality. On behalf of the whole community, I want to extend our gratitude to One Heart for providing support at one of the most remote municipalities in the district. We are already seeing improvement in the MNCH services, which will improve even more in the days to come." 

~ Netra Bahadur Khatri , Chairperson, Walankha, Ward Aamchok R.M-4, Bhojpur, 2019

“I am so pleased with the One Heart’s support. Other FCHVs are also very happy receiving the motivational package andCB-IMNCI with MISO/BPP training. This training has taught us so many thingslike immediate newborn care, Kangaroo Mother Care, dose of misoprostol for PPH prevention, use of CHx. We are doing our best in the community level and OHW’s support for us has encouraged us to work even better. We promise you to do our best to save the lives of mothers and babies.”

~ Fulmati Pun, FCHV Jalkini, Sindhupalchok, 2015

“Being on the ground setting up birthing tents during the second earthquake (which was shortly before this picture was taken) in Dhading Province, Nepal, was a harrowing experience. But when within an hour two pregnant women were rushed to the birthing tents and began receiving care from the trained OHW birth attendants, the relevance of our work and the fundamental need inNepal for the “Network of Safety” was driven home to me in a way that fifty board meetings and fundraisers never could. I am so proud of our OHW team in Nepal and their amazing work on the ground as first responders after the earthquakes hit.”

~ Evan Kaplan, Treasurer of the Board OHW, 2015

“This birthing center has given me so much. The center only recently started offering birthing services, so I was lucky to be able to receive care in my own village. We were actually planning to go toBiratnagar – one of the biggest cities in Nepal, and very far away – to deliver because the doctor told us the baby was breech after an ultrasound. So my husband and Istarted making plans to go a week before the due date.But the bus did not show up for two days because of bad road conditions, and the next day, labor pains started. Immediately headed straight to Rajapani birthing center with my husband. The SBAs helped me through six hours of labor to deliver my little angel.But just a couple moments after my daughter was born, Ibecame nervous because she didn’t cry. The SBA told me it could be something serious called birth asphyxia. I still remember our SBA doing her best, working through the cold night. After countless efforts with a bag and mask,my daughter finally cried. I felt lucky and well-supported in many ways. Because of these life-saving services I amable to see my daughter growing and making my entire family happy.”

~ Binuta Shrestha, Rajapani, Khotang District, 2016

“Originally, I took a class in midwifery just to get a job, but I soon developed a passion to serve people in need. One Heart World-Wide gave me the opportunity to become an SBA, which is really helpful for nurses like me who work in very remote villages. SBA [training] has increased my knowledge and boosted my confidence.”

~ Tara Magar, SBA, Khalte Health Post, Dhading District, 2016

“As a key coordinator of safe motherhood practices in the Taplejung district, I am amazed by the teamwork and planning of the OHW district team. Together, we conducted trainings in birth preparedness and use of misoprostol, we conducted a needs assessment of the birthing center, and we recently started providing continuing medical education in MNH. OHW has done excellent work in this district, which is among the most remote and underdeveloped in eastern Nepal.”

~ Hima Devi Dahar, Public Health Nurse, District Health Office, Taplejung District, 2016

“After hearing that the Durchim Birthing Center had an ultrasound machine, I was so eager and excited to go for my third ANC visit. I was maybe more curious and anxious than others during my pregnancy because my belly was growing bigger and larger than I expected. I was worried about the status of my baby and had so many questions and thoughts: what if there was too much fluid? And what if my baby was having problems? My SBA, Parbati Acharya, said she suspected twins during my second visit. And being a woman from a remote village, there was no way for me to get an ultrasound.

The very next day, I received a call from our Parbati informing me that I could now get an ultrasound at our local birthing center. Parbati scanned my big belly, and confirmed that I was pregnant with twins. I was so touched that I had goosebumps when she showed me the tab and pointed to show me my babies’ hearts pumping. After a few follow-ups, the babies still lay intersecting each other. I am grateful that the SBA referred me to a higher-level center in Kathmandu, where I had a C-section and successfully delivered two baby girls. Thanks for making my life easier and safer.”

~ Chuna Budhathoki, Durchim, Khotang District, 2016

“The happiness you feel after saving a life is inexplicable. You establish such a powerful bond with the mother and her family, that it stays with you forever. It makes me very emotional when I meet these mothers I have saved, and see how they are doing now. Sometimes they come to visit me with gifts. I treasure them like they are my awards.”

~ Parbati Acharya, ANM, Durchhim Health Post, Khotang, 2017

One Heart Worldwide has had a huge impact in maternal and neonatal health by renovating birthing centers and providing them with essential equipment. They have also helped to build the capacity of our health professionals and stakeholders through various trainings, mobile health programs and collaboration with the local government. Most of our birthing centers look modern, clean, organized and well-lit. Thanks to the Network of Safety programs of OHW.” 

~ Maheshwor Shrestha, Chief Heath Education Administrator, Ministry of Health and Population, 2018