Green Tara Trust

Supporting rural communities in Nepal towards finding their own health solutions

Registered Charity Number: 1125356
London

2013 Newsletter

Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013

FUNDING

Over the past year, £50,000 has been raised from individuals and trust funds. The programme has been extended into the south of Nepal where the health and quality of life are very poor. This is happening on the basis of the efficacy and the cost-effectiveness of the health promotion programmes so far. Charitable Trusts are not as able to make the same levels of donation so we are looking for more individuals to contribute. The pound goes a long way as many people in the UK volunteer their time to enable paid jobs for the Nepali field workers and coordinators.

We have been fortunate to receive a significant grant to continue the programme in Kathmandu valley and to extend it to a new area in the South on the Indian border.  This area is subject to flooding and consequently the quality of water and sanitation is poor. The death rate from common illnesses such as typhoid and dysentery is very high, particularly in young children. Access to education is poor and girls as young as 7 years old are giving birth. There will be four districts each with a population of 20,000 assigned for the health promotion and antenatal programmes.

Women’s Health Promotion Groups

More than 20 new mother’s groups have been formed and home visits have been increased for women in need who are unable to attend group meetings which take place after the daily work in the fields has been completed. The priority is for pregnant women and mothers with children under two years old as they are most susceptible to life threatening illnesses and domestic violence. Local women with significant experience of attendance are being trained in health promotion and group-working skills. Once trained these women facilitate groups alternatively with GTT and GTN field staff as well as providing sexual health education to young people, giving an opportunity to discuss topics such as health and reproductive issues, gender discrimination and menstrual taboos.

More than 80 groups meet regularly once a month in the Daichhinckali and Chhaimale areas in the foothills an hour’s travel west from Kathmandu. Because this is a rural area with typical demographic indicators for rural Nepal, this programme established in 2008 serves as a blueprint for effective change and is a major contributor to Nepal’s 10 Year Country Action Plan for Health.

Out of a population of 10,000 at any one time there are approximately 250 pregnant women and approximately 440 children under 2 years old.

 

GTT and GTN Support for Other NGO’s and Organisations

GTN continues to train nurse/midwives to work alongside the government health system in the project areas to deliver prenatal and antenatal care, contraception advice and health promotion. Two mobile clinics a month continue to be provided by GTT in coordination with Government health services.

The 4 NGOs formed by local women who have attended GTT groups continue, and are being funded by local Government funds. Their main areas of work are income generation and gender-based violence. GTT are liaising closely with these groups to ensure all local programmes are complementing each other and include the most marginalised and poor people. In addition to the group facilitation and curriculum, each woman who completes a full antenatal check up (4 visits) receives a baby blanket and safe delivery kit from GTT.

GTT and GTN support Skills Training for Lesbians In Kathmandu. This is a small programme run for Mitini Nepal, the society in Kathmandu that supports lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. These women have had to leave their rural areas due to their sexuality and often end up in Kathmandu. Many have not completed primary education. Those who have found jobs have lost them when their employers have discovered their sexuality. Thus the women are keen to improve their skills and be able to compete in the job market, or be able to train so that they can work together to make a living.  Funds enabled cab driver training for 6 local women. GTT continue to provide advice and non- monetary support to the organization.

 

Fund-Raising and Educational Events

A Teej Womens Day celebratory event was held in a remote community which has the poorest antenatal attendance. It focused on women’s empowerment in decision making. Over 600 people attended from the community who do not normally come to groups and at least half were men. Local women’s groups put on the event with assistance from our field staff.

A networking event was held in Kathmandu to let non resident Nepalis know about the programme. Over 100 people attended.

 

Student placement

GTT continues to work with the Universities of Aberdeen, Sheffield and Bournemouth in programme delivery, monitoring and evaluation. Eight Masters and PhD students have been involved in the programme field areas.