Challenges
In Nepal, insufficient health facilities, lack of health awareness, stigma, socio-cultural and religious malpractices are limiting access to timely basic health care services for the poor living in the remotest parts of the country. We educate communities in need on basic health issues and support health systems in the rural areas to ensure Health for the Poorest. To achieve this, we work in three critical areas — Neglected Tropical Diseases, People with Disabilities, and Maternal and Neonatal Health.
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Nepal's total population (about 28 million) faces high risk of at least one Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD)1. Early case detection, validation, complete treatment, and disability prevention are four major challenges to eliminate NTDs. Limited programs to eliminate NTDs, prevention of impairment and disability (POID) clinics, lack of health education, and associated stigma further aggravate the challenges. FAIRMED believes that NTDs can be controlled effectively by intensified disease management, early detection, preventive measures and appropriate treatment.
People with Disabilities
People with disabilities suffer from both physical and mental health problems and are insufficiently informed about their rights. This restricts their access to basic health services, education, employment, and public places. FAIRMED believes that the issue of disability is a common challenge that needs to be addressed, and embraces Disability Inclusive Development (DID) strategy to bring people with disabilities to the forefront of development.
Mothers and newborn
Maternal health is critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage. It is one of the priority interventions of the Ministry of Health and is implemented under Nepal Government's Safe Motherhood Program since 1997. Nepal's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 76% in the last 17 years. Yet, many young mothers and newborns die every day, unable to access proper and timely obstetric care. Lack of knowledge and wrong socio-cultural practices at child birth and during post-natal period only help to increase the mortality rate.