Nepal: Kavre Community Outreach Program

RMF Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week: Q3 2018

October 01, 2018

Ganesh Shrestha

Summary of Activities

Since the earthquake of 2015, RMF’s efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of Kavre residents have continued to develop. In 2017, RMF received approval of our 5-year Health Care System Strengthening and Outreach Program from Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare (MoWCSW). As a result, RMF will be able to fully implement the Kavre Community Outreach Program. Currently, RMF’s priority in the program has shifted to supporting the health clinic at Dapcha Health Post, which was opened in February 2018, as well as RMF Urban Health Center, which was opened in March 2018.

During this Quarter:

  • RMF Nepal celebrated World Breastfeeding Week in collaboration with Namo Buddha municipality. On the last day of the week, a program was organized at RMF Urban Health Center.
  •  RMF Nepal was involved in this year’s celebration of the 5th annual Family Planning Day, which was organized at Dapcha Health Post, Kavre. A rally was organized, and participants marched with placards through the community. In addition, high school students participated in a debate on the role of adolescent boys and girls in family planning.
  •  RMF supports the medical laboratory at Dapcha Health Post. The laboratory performed a total of 492 tests during this quarter.
  •  5 Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) clinics are active in the catchment area of Dapcha Health Post. 133 patients were immunized at the vaccination clinics during this reporting period. 126 of the patients were children who were vaccinated for tuberculosis (BCG), diphtheria and tetanus (DTP), hepatitis-B (HepB), polio (OPV), pneumococcal disease (PCV), measles and rubella (MR), and Japanese encephalitis (JE), and 7 of the patients were pregnant women who received the 2nd dose of their tetanus (TT) immunizations
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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AS Nepal KCOP Q3 2018 (16)

Community Event

Promoting Breastfeeding

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated globally each year on the first week of August. The aim of World Breastfeeding Week is to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies worldwide. The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week was “Breastfeeding: Foundation for Life,” a recognition of the importance of breastfeeding to a baby’s future.

RMF Nepal celebrated this year’s World Breastfeeding Week in collaboration with Namo Buddha municipality. On August 7, the last day of the event, a program was organized at RMF Urban Health Center. RMF Program Coordinator Pragya Gautam, RMF Kavre staff members, local leaders, health personnel, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), and breastfeeding mothers and children were present.

AS Nepal KCOP Q3 2018 (9)

CB-IMNCI Program

TREATING THE YOUNG

The Community Based Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (CB-IMNCI) program is being implemented in Kavre district. This program ensures that sick children under 5 years of age are managed for their health conditions and registered in the CB-IMNCI register.

Between July and September of 2018, 230 children under 5 were treated at Dapcha Health Post. 12 of these patients were under 2 months of age, and 218 were 2–59 months of age. Respiratory infections, including pneumonia, were the leading health concern among children under 5 with 109 patients.

AS Nepal KCOP Q3 2018 (14)

National Event

Family Planning

Each year, the government of Nepal collaborates with partner organizations to celebrate National Family Planning Day on September 18. The main aim of the National Family Planning Program is to ensure that individuals and couples are able to fulfill their reproductive needs by using appropriate family planning methods based on informed choice.

RMF Nepal was involved in the celebration of the 5th Family Planning Day organized at Dapcha Health Post, Kavre. Participants marched through the community holding placards, and a debate on the role of adolescent boys and girls in family planning was conducted for local high school students.

AS Nepal KCOP Q3 2018 (1)

Dapcha Outpatient

2,443 PATIENTS

Dapcha Health Post served 2,443 patients at its OPD, from July to September of 2018. 1,475 of the patients were female, and 968 were male. The OPD averaged about 814 patients per month for this quarter. Infectious diseases were the leading health problem registered in the OPD at 591 patients, followed by orthopedic problems at 318 patients.

AS Nepal KCOP Q3 2018 (7)

RMF Outpatient

1,127 PATIENTS

RMF Urban Health Center served 1,127 patients at its OPD between July and September of 2018. Of these patients, 626 were female, and 501 were male. The OPD averaged about 475 patients per month during this reporting period.

AS Nepal KCOP Q3 2018 (17)

Maternity

CARE AND PLANNING

The health post served 45 pregnant women with antenatal care (ANC) services, and 20 mothers received institutional delivery services. 361 patients, including 34 new patients, are currently using various family planning methods including oral contraceptive pills, Depo-Provera, implants, and IUCDs.

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Background

& Objectives

Background

Objectives

  • Significantly reduce malnutrition among children under the age of 5
  • Cause behavior change related to health, nutrition and hygiene through health education
  • Improve the health services and programs
  • Help acutely malnourished children graduate from malnourished status to a healthy status
  • Improve maternal health, sexual health, family planning
  • Reduce neonatal and infant mortalities
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More

Photos

Click to enlarge

Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Numbers

Served

Direct Beneficiaries

QUARTERLY TOTALS

Dapcha Health Post-2,443

RMF Urban Health Center-1,127

Immunized-133

Family Planning-361

Antenatal Care-45

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Success

Stories

Manisha Katuwal getting her wound dressed

Manisha Katuwal

Cut Injury

Manisha Katuwal, a 16-year-old girl from Namo Buddha municipality-2, came to RMF Urban Health Center on September 28 with cut injury on her right hand. She was injured when she fell while cutting grass. RMF health workers stitched her wound, gave her a TT injection, and prescribed antibiotics and painkillers. The wound was redressed daily for a week.

Laxmi Bhuiel on day 1 of treatment Laxmi at her follow-up appointment after 2 weeks

Laxmi Bhujel

Jaundice

Laxmi Bhujel, a 28-day-old baby from Namo Buddha municipality-2, was brought to RMF Urban Health Center by her mother. She was slightly pale, and the mother was afraid she may have jaundice, a dangerous condition in newborns. The doctor checked the baby and diagnosed her with physiological jaundice, a form of jaundice common in newborn. He advised early morning sun exposure for few days, and the paleness subsided.

Sanvi Tamang and her mother

Sanvi Tamang

Cleft Lip

Sanvi Tamang, a 48-day-old baby girl, was brought to Dapcha Health Post by her mother who was concerned as her child had a wide opening on the upper lip and could not breastfeed. She was dependent on spoon feeding, and the mother had been having problems producing breastmilk regularly. Sanvi weighed 2.8kg at birth, and 3.1kg at the time of her visit, and her mother was also anxious about her growth and development. On examination, it was found that she had cleft lip but not cleft palate, and it required surgical intervention which was not possible at the clinic. Thus, the mother was counseled about her child’s condition and its treatment, and she was referred to Kirtipur Hospital in Kathmandu where operations for such cases are performed free of charge. Sanvi’s mother was very happy to receive a thorough explanation from the clinicians as well as a referral to a hospital where he child could receive free treatment, as this would reduce the financial burden on her family.

Kali Maya resting after having her baby

Kali Maya Tamang

Childbirth

Kali Maya Tamang was 35 weeks pregnant at her last antenatal checkup. 3 days later, she was brought to Dapcha Health Post in the middle of the night as she had incessant pain in her lower back and abdomen. Upon examination, it was found that she was already in an active stage of labor. Alarmed by the condition, the skilled birth attendants were especially careful, as the child was premature. Kali underwent a normal labor process and delivered a boy weighing 2.3kg. The child was underweight but active and cried immediately after birth, and he was able to breastfeed. After cleaning, he was kept in skin-to-skin contact with the mother to keep him warm and then kept under a radiant warmer until the mother had recovered a little from labor.

Luckily, RMF physician Dr. Chhabindra visited Dapcha Health Post the next day to assess patients including Kali Maya and her son. They both were doing well, so they were discharged with adequate counseling about the care of a low-birthweight baby. Further education regarding hygiene, immunization, hypothermia and its symptoms, other danger signs for newborn babies, and exclusive breastfeeding was also provided. She thanked the clinic staff profusely and went home.

Anju Lama with her baby after giving birth

Anju Lama

Childbirth

Anju Lama had attended regular antenatal checkups at Dapcha Health Post during which she was counseled on when to come to the clinic to deliver her child. As a result, she knew the right time during her labor to come to the birthing center. She had a successful stay, as she gave birth to a boy weighing 2.8kg via spontaneous vaginal delivery. She was thankful to the attending staff for assisting her in having a normal delivery with no complications. She was well aware of childcare protocols, breastfed her child actively, and also knew about immunization and exclusive breastfeeding. She was further counseled about danger signs and contraception. She was also advised to continue iron and calcium supplements for 6 weeks.