One Heart Worldwide Secures USAID ASHA Funding to Establish Seven Maternal and Newborn Health Centers of Excellence Across Nepal

A trainee practicing her MNH skills during a simulation-based training session.

[Kathmandu, Nepal, 12 January 2024] - One Heart Worldwide proudly announces a significant stride toward enhancing maternal and newborn health (MNH)  in Nepal through the generous support received from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Initiative. This funding will empower One Heart Worldwide to spearhead the creation of seven state-of-the-art MNH Centers of Excellence across Nepal. The project, a joint effort between the United States, the Government of Nepal, and One Heart Worldwide, will support Nepal’s efforts to reach its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals for maternal and neonatal health.

The primary focus of this project will be to establish and furnish seven high-quality Centers of Excellence within existing tertiary-level hospitals in five of Nepal’s seven provinces. Each Center of Excellence will provide comprehensive training for Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) and other Skilled Health Personnel (SHPs) using a simulation-based teaching methodology. Leveraging USAID resources, these centers will become pivotal hubs for advancing critical MNH skills and elevating the quality of MNH services in Nepal, as well as for increasing mutual understanding between Americans and Nepalis.

In addition, One Heart Worldwide is supporting the Government of Nepal to provide technical assistance in incorporating the simulation-based methodology into Nepal’s national training curriculum for SBAs and SHPs which the Government is currently revising. The development of this curriculum will also be a focus of this USAID-funded project and is a fantastic opportunity to have a national-level impact on the quality of MNH care in Nepal.

Many MNH service providers working in rural areas of Nepal lack the specialized skills to deliver quality care, and even those who participate in the official training to become certified SBAs require follow-up or opportunities to gain new information or updated techniques. Traditional training courses in Nepal are largely theoretical in nature, without opportunities for hands-on learning, resulting in low confidence in applying skills or an inability to practice complex scenarios.

In contrast, simulation-based approaches create rich learning environments by providing MNH care providers with opportunities to practice their clinical and decision-making skills through various real-life situational experiences. Practicing in realistic scenarios builds competencies to manage emergencies and rare adverse events, directly impacting better patient outcomes. Within the USAID-funded Centers of Excellence, trainees will practice using medical manikins that simulate pregnant women and infants, as well as practice clinical techniques using real medical instruments such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, and infant warmers.

"We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey in collaboration with USAID’s ASHA Initiative," said David Murphy, CEO at One Heart Worldwide. "This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to bolster healthcare systems and elevate maternal and newborn care standards across Nepal."

The initiative will see active involvement from American medical professionals who will contribute through virtual webinars, disseminating best practices in simulation training and fostering a deeper understanding of American values and medical expertise.

This project is poised to deliver not only enhanced healthcare but also substantial public diplomacy benefits. Beyond the technical aspects, the project places significant emphasis on public outreach. Targeted messaging campaigns will engage both trainers and trainees at the simulation labs, highlighting the friendship between America and Nepal and promoting the shared values driving this collaboration.

The U.S. Agency for International Development administers the U.S. foreign assistance program, providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide.

For more information about One Heart Worldwide and its initiatives, please visit www.oneheartworldwide.org.

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About One Heart Worldwide:

One Heart Worldwide (OHW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safer in remote and underserved regions of Nepal. Founded in 2004, OHW employs a comprehensive “Network of Safety” model that includes training healthcare professionals and local stakeholders, providing essential medical supplies, upgrading health facilities, and raising awareness about maternal and newborn health. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, OHW has reached a significant milestone of impacting 1 million mothers and newborns with improved maternal and newborn care access in Nepal.

For more information, please contact:

Katie Dyas
Communications Manager
One Heart Worldwide
katie@oneheartworldwide.org