News and Events

150 Bicycles to Be Distributed among Femal Community Health Volunteers in Saptari, Mahottari, Rautahat, Kapilvastu and Dang

Kathmandu, 24 June 2008

Today UNFPA Nepal handed over 150 preassembled bicycles and stationery donated by Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) in collaboration with the Municipal Coordinating Committee for Overseas Bicycle Assistance (MCCOBA) and several Japanese municipal governments to Mr. Som Lal Suvedi, Officiating Secretary, Ministry of Local Development.
The bicycles, accessories and stationeries like notebooks, pencils and pens have been collected as a donation by JOICFP from the Municipal Coordinating Committee for Overseas Bicycle Assistance (MCCOBA. The items will be further distributed through the District Pubic Health Offices (D/PHOs) for use by Female Community Health Volunteers in five districts where UNFPA is supporting Community Based Programme: Saptari, Mahottari, Rautahat, Kapilvastu and Dang.

The function was held at the UN House in Kathmandu and attended by Dr. Dirgha Singh Bam, Officiating Secretary, MOHP, Kenichi Tanimoto, Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan, Som Lal Suvedi, Officiating Secretary, MoLD and two Female Community Helath Volunteers - Rema Devi from Rautahat and Chanda Pandey from Mahottari. During the handover ceremony UNFPA Country Representative a. i. Ugochi Daniels, stated that 'Female Community Health Volunteers's role is crucial in achieving improvement in maternal and child health in Nepal. Recognizing the importance of women's participation in health promotion, the Government of Nepal initiated Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV) programme in 1988. UNFPA acknowledging the particular value of the volunteers has been supporting the programme from the first year (together with UNICEF and USAID) of its inception. Family planning and access to contraceptives are essential for the prevention of maternal deaths and newborn deaths and to achieve universal reproductive health for all. The Japanese Government has always supported Government of Nepal and UNFPA in their efforts to improve reproductive health situation, including family planning.'

The Japanese Government and NGOs assistance in improving access to reproductive health services in Nepal was further recognized by Dr. Dirgha Singh Bam Officiating Secretary of MoHP. He also acknowledged the hard work of FCHVs and the social recognition they receive in their communities. Dr. Bam emphasized government's dedication and support to Female Community Health Volunteers and readiness to assist them in overcoming difficulties they might face.

Mr. Som Lal Suvedi expressed gratitude to the donors for choosing this modality to support filed workers. This form of assistance- reaching communities directly- should be applied as often as it is possible, especially for the community volunteers any form of direct support means a lot. He further highlighted the fact that the Government of Japan is a key bilateral donor for Nepal's development.

Ms. Rama Devi and Chanda Pandey talked about their work. They need to travel over long distances to reach the members of the community and owning a bicycle will help them a lot. Both of them mentioned that right now, what would make the Female Community Health Volunteers' job easier is a standard dress which would give them immediate recognition in the community.

Mr. Keichi Tanimoto appreciated and recalled the long-lasting cooperation Government of Japan has maintained with Government of Nepal. The Government of Japan has a long history of supporting UNFPA internationally and in Nepal. UNFPA Nepal is currently executing a project implemented by local partners and financed by the Japanese government: Delivering Essential Reproductive Health Care for Women, Men, and Adolescents in the Post-Conflict Situation through Mobile Reproductive Health Camps in Doti, Acchan, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya and Banke districts.

UNFPA and JOICFP are both involved and engaged in the area of reproductive health and family planning, supporting and promoting field volunteer workers in community based programmes. JOICFP's generous support to the FCHV Programme in Nepal not only enhances the capacity of health services and counselling in rural communities of Nepal, but adds a new dimension to UNFPA and JOICEFP collaboration, opening up new avenues for future partnerships.

For more information contact: Anna Adhikari, Communication Consultant adhikari@unfpa.org
5523200 ext, 1220

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