WHERE
Nepal, Karnali Province, Jajarkot District, Barekot and Kushe Rural Municipalities
CONTEXT
ASIA continued its response in Jajarkot District through an integrated community health project designed to support earthquake-affected communities in the Rural Municipalities of Barekot and Kushe, among the areas hardest hit by the 3 November 2023 earthquake. Implemented in one of Nepal’s most remote and underserved regions, the initiative addressed a context marked by multidimensional poverty, weak access to public health services, limited availability of trained health personnel and the compounded effects of displacement, poor shelter conditions and lack of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. In the aftermath of the earthquake, these structural vulnerabilities were further exacerbated by increased risks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, reduced access to maternal and reproductive health services, and growing psychosocial distress among women, children, older persons and other vulnerable groups. In response, the project adopted a holistic approach aimed at improving both access to and quality of integrated primary healthcare services, while strengthening community awareness and local capacities. Through support to six government health centres, training for health workers, teachers, caregivers and Female Community Health Volunteers, and awareness-raising activities on hygiene, maternal and child health, reproductive health, mental health and palliative care, the initiative contributed to reinforcing community resilience and improving the wellbeing of vulnerable rural populations.
OBJECTIVE
General objective
To improve the health status of Barekot and Kushe communities in Jajarkot district.
Specific Objective
To increase the quality and access to integrated healthcare services for the Barekot and Kushe communities in Jajarkot district.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
- Organization of interactive workshops and hands-on labs on maternal and child health, proper hygiene practices, and sexual, reproductive, and menstrual health, involving experts in the field and pregnant women/caregivers/adolescent students from the community.
- Promotion of mental health and psychological support through training and community awareness-raising
- Creation of A mental health awareness and education program and psychological support for health workers, teachers, and caregivers in Kushe and Barekot, to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and provide practical tools for managing any psychological problems.
RESULTS
- Increased community awareness of sexual and reproductive health, sanitation practices, and maternal and child health.
- Increased community awareness of the importance of mental health, emotional well-being, and related support practices.
- Strengthened the capacity of health workers, caretakers, and FCHVs to provide comprehensive primary health care services, including management of noncommunicable diseases, psychosocial support, and palliative care.
BENEFICIARIES
Directs: 4934 persons, including pregnant women, caregivers, adolescents, health workers, teachers, FCHV, traditional healers, mothers’ groups and local community members.
Indirects: Approximately 15,000 people live in the project’s target villages