Niraj’s journey: Uplifting Maternal and Neonatal Health in Rural Nepal

By Naresh Newar and Niraj Bhattarai

Niraj Bhattarai is the Program Coordinator of Dalit Development Society, an OHW partner organization in Salyan District.

Niraj’s dedication to enhancing the well-being of vulnerable communities, particularly mothers and newborns, has been an integral part of his life. “Through my experiences, I developed a deep connection with pregnant women and neonates in the most rural and unreached areas,” he reflects.

Educated with a Public Health degree, Niraj started his journey as a training officer with Max Pro in Dhading district. In the rural part of upper Dhading, Niraj helped build the knowledge of health workers by providing them with training on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).

After his time in Dhading, Niraj’s journey took him to Baglung district, where he joined Medic Mobile as a Senior Training officer. There, he focused on equipping health workers and Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) with new skills to leverage mobile technology for maternal and neonatal health. His work in Baglung contributed significantly to scaling up life-saving interventions and strengthening the healthcare system in the region.

Niraj works closely with health workers and Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) equipping them with the skills to adapt mobile technology for maternal and neonatal health.

These experiences in rural areas deepened Niraj’s empathy for pregnant women and newborns, driving him to further his work with the Suaahara program. For two years, he was involved in enhancing the nutritional well-being of expectant and lactating mothers, as well as young children under two years old, in Bajura district in Sudurpaschim (Far-West) Province.

“The health status of pregnant adolescents and children was really poor in the district,” he remembered. In June 2022, a report by the leading Nepali newspaper (Kantipur) revealed that nearly 200 pregnant and adolescent girls in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality were malnourished–a stark reminder of the urgent need for nutritional intervention. 

Broadening horizons and finding new opportunities

Although Niraj’s background is primarily in nutrition, he acknowledged that the SMNHS project broadened his expertise in maternal and neonatal health. He expressed his admiration for One Heart’s approach, noting, “The beauty of this project lies in its focus on both the software and hardware aspects of healthcare.”

With diverse experience in health services, Niraj also has extensive experience combating child malnutrition and was able to mobilize resources to reduce it.

Initially, Niraj had reservations about the feasibility of One Heart’s programs, given the limited staff and the challenge of covering every health facility while ensuring cost-sharing practices with local stakeholders for long-term sustainability. However, 

through continuous coordination with the local governments and working in tandem with their initiatives, they successfully created new opportunities for the program’s success. One such opportunity was to promote the culture of cost-sharing between local governments and development agencies. 

Tangible solutions

According to Niraj, this project’s focus on identifying problems and offering tangible solutions sets it apart. “After our intervention, the local government allocated funds for purchasing essential equipment and drugs for the birthing centers and conducting various trainings,” Niraj explained.

Thanks to his team at the Dalit Development Society and their persistent efforts, most Birthing Centers now have emergency drugs readily available. “After continuous follow-up with nursing staff, the Birthing Centers have ensured the availability of essential emergency drugs,” Niraj said.

Recognizing One Heart’s impact, he stated, “Even small interventions can create a significant impact when we effectively advocate for stakeholders’ involvement.” As a result of the project, not only has the local government provided essential equipment like Kangaroo Mother Care chairs and screens, but healthcare facilities have also undertaken minor renovations and organized maternal and neonatal health service flows.

Grateful for the collaborative efforts, Niraj expressed his appreciation, saying, “I am thankful for the continuous support from government health workers and the One Heart Worldwide team.”

Reflecting on his journey, Niraj remains committed to his mission and acknowledges the progress made. “I am continually working with full dedication; I am delighted to contribute to making every pregnancy safe,” he concluded, knowing that his efforts have significantly improved maternal and neonatal health in rural Nepal.

As a health practitioner, Niraj believes that working closely with rural communities has helped in his empathy for pregnant women and newborns.