USAID Nepal Family Health Program II Nepal Family Health Program II
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Local Health Governance

NFHP II addresses local-level governance of health facilities and services primarily through an effort called 'Community and Health Facility as Partners' (CHFP). Our approach is based on the assumptions that:
  • communities have a right to quality health care,
  • they also have a responsibility to support government efforts in providing community health services.
CHFP aims to strengthen partnership between the health facility and communities in managing public-sector health services through the active involvement of 'Health Facility Operation and Management Committees' (HFOMC). Under the Government of Nepal's decentralization initiative, the HFOMC is a formally constituted body responsible for operating and managing local health facilities. They consist of a variety of community representatives.

CHFP focuses on improving public-sector health facility governance and on increasing use of health services by members of the community, especially by those who are marginalized and otherwise have limited access to services. In delivering community health services it is important to address both supply and demand sides. HFOMCs can play an important role helping to ensure that community demands/needs are adequately met by public health facilities. To achieve the intended partnership, however, HFOMCs need to build their capacity in various areas of management. Building on the lessons of NFHP I, CHFP has been designed to address these gaps. The approach involves a two-year period of support (one year intensive and one year limited technical support) including a three-day interaction session, periodic review meetings, regular follow up, and promotional activities.

NFHP II is providing direct support in 7 districts and support will be provided through other organizations in 4 more core program districts. During the first year of NFHP II implementation, CHFP has been implemented in 4 districts— Banke, Dang, Surkhet and Kanchanpur. In keeping with NFHP's overall philosophy, NFHP II is using this experience to build program learning as a basis for replication at scale. Technical support is being provided to other stakeholders including National Health Training Centre to leverage additional resources to apply these approaches elsewhere.

To learn more about NFHP's work in local health governance, go to our Resources.

NFHP II is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., with EngenderHealth, Jhpiego, Save the Children, World Education, Inc., Nepali Technical Assistance Group, Nepal Fertility Care Center, Management Support Services Private Ltd., and Nepal Red Cross Society. Copyright 2010 John Snow, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The information provided on this web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the USAID or the U.S. Government. The contents are the responsibility of the NFHP II implementer (JSI) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. For more information, please contact: webmaster@jsi.com.