Q1 2026: Four Districts Graduate, One Mission Keeps Moving
Spring has arrived in Nepal, and with it, some of the most meaningful progress we have seen in years. From districts taking on full ownership of their health systems to a new partnership expanding care to thousands more families, the first quarter of 2026 gave us a great deal to be grateful for. Here is what our team has been up to.
FOUR DISTRICTS TAKE THE LEAD
The transition phase is the goal every OHW district is working toward, and in Q1, four of them got there. Dailekh, Kalikot, Bara, and Mahottari have officially entered the transition phase of OHW’s six-year model. Municipal governments in each of these districts are now conducting quality improvement assessments independently, managing medicine and equipment stocks at birthing centers, and budgeting for maternal and newborn health from their own municipal funds. OHW staff remain available to provide support where needed, but the day-to-day responsibility now belongs to local government.
That is exactly what the Network of Safety model is designed to achieve.
SIMULATION LABS ARE GROWING ACROSS NEPAL
Progress continued on OHW’s nationwide network of simulation laboratories. The lab at Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences in Kaski is fully operational, with training sessions underway on neonatal resuscitation. The lab at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Kathmandu is training providers in Essential Care of Labor and Birth. Renovation work has begun at Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences in Dhanusha, and work at Provincial Hospital Surkhet is planned for Q2. OHW is also exploring locations for four additional labs nationwide.
THE CARE COMPANION PROGRAM REACHES 27 HOSPITALS
We are thrilled to share that our partnership with Noora Health is expanding the Care Companion Program (CCP) from 11 to 27 hospitals across Madhesh, Bagmati, and Karnali Provinces. In Q1 alone, 532 CCP sessions were held across 11 facilities, reaching 10,540 participants. The expansion will also introduce caregiver training on non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, as these conditions increasingly affect pregnant patients in Nepal.
BUILDING FOR CHANGING CLIMATE IN HUMLA
In January, OHW’s construction engineers attended a training on energy-efficient building design. One of the key takeaways was that passive building design is the most effective way to reduce heating and cooling demands. The learning came at the right moment: construction of a Maternity Waiting Home in Humla District was already underway, and the team is now incorporating these principles into the build.
OHW IN NAIROBI
In March, our team traveled to Nairobi for the 2026 International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference, joining over 1,500 MNH practitioners from around the world. OHW co-hosted a side event on obstetric ultrasound task-sharing with partners from Rwanda, Togo, Malawi, Kenya, and Uganda. Our Co-CEO, Surya Bhatta, also presented at a session on government partnerships hosted by Grand Challenges Canada. It was a reminder that the questions OHW is working to answer in Nepal are being asked everywhere.
A STORY WORTH READING
If you have not yet read one of our latest stories from the field, we recommend it. It follows a Skilled Birth Attendant in Mahottari whose simulation-based training prepared her for a late-night emergency that could have cost a mother her life. It is the kind of story that explains, better than any report could, why this work matters.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Our team has been following the broader MNH landscape closely. A few pieces worth your time:
Motherhood in the Madhes - Nepali Times Article
In Nepal, US ends effort to help women make life-or-death choices - Devex Article
More mothers now deliver in hospitals, but deaths remain high - The Kathmandu Post
Engaging fathers for healthier families: Equity means sharing responsibility of raising children - The Himalayan Times
Hypertension among leading causes of maternal deaths in Nepal - The Kathmandu Post
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The Q1 2026 report covers program activities from January through March 2026.
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A safe birth should never depend on where a mother lives. One Heart Worldwide works alongside the Government of Nepal to ensure every mother and newborn has access to quality care. Learn more at oneheartworldwide.org.
One Heart Worldwide | Since 2010 | Making pregnancy safer in Nepal
