USAID Nepal Family Health Program II Nepal Family Health Program II
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Maternal and Neonatal Health

During NFHP I, USAID/Nepal supported several innovative community-level pilots aiming to improve maternal and neonatal health. Through this period government has accorded high priority to the area and other donor partners — notably the UK Department for International Development (DfID) — have given serious attention. The most recent Demographic and Health Survey (2006) documented significant declines in both maternal and infant mortality, with MMR declining from 539, ten years earlier, to 281 and infant mortality declining from 79 to 48 over the same period. But clearly these rates remain unacceptably high. Much remains to be done.

NFHP II is working to strengthen service delivery at both health facility and community levels. At the central level, NFHP II supports the Ministry's Family Health Division. This includes a secretariat function for the National Safe Motherhood and Neonatal Sub-Committee. Central level support includes revision of medical standards, their dissemination, orientation to providers and follow-up during implementation.

At the peripheral level, NFHP II is helping the Ministry improve the quality of MNH services through coaching, orientation, and planning with health workers so that they will be better able to manage cases, including those referred from community-level service providers.

NFHP II supports the Ministry's Family Health and Child Health Divisions in community level approaches to improving maternal and newborn health, in line with the government's Community-Based Neonatal Care Package. And NFHP II works with these divisions to pilot promising innovations, for example, neonatal vitamin A dosing.

To learn more about NFHP's work in maternal and child health, 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.