Ujeli Devi, a Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV) from Bajhang can now confidently deliver health messages in mothers’ group meetings. Earlier, she couldn’t speak confidently, let alone conduct meetings and teach in a group.

Ujeli Devi shares, “Earlier, I tried to conduct health education sessions during group meetings but I wasn’t good at it and felt very uncomfortable during these sessions. But now I feel confident and capable. All the credit for this change goes to the Birth Preparedness Package training that I received where we had an opportunity to learn about safe motherhood, child health issues and also the important role of a FCHV to uplift the health status of mother and child in local communities.”

UMN’s partner Pragati Yuwa Samaj works in the Maternal and Child Health project in Bajhang and this year they trained all the FCHVs of Daulichau on the Birth Preparedness Package. She feels pleased to see mothers discuss, learn and ask questions about their health and other health-related issues facing the community. Many mothers have also referred pregnant women to health facilities for proper services. Women in this village of Bajhang are united to work and share their knowledge and skills with each other in regular monthly meetings.