The female community health volunteers: unsung heroes

Authors

  • Nimesh Lageju B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
  • Durga Neupane B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
  • Lokesh Shekher Jaiswal Department of Surgery, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20220877

Keywords:

Female, Community, Health volunteers

Abstract

In the 1980s, Nepal commenced a programme of female community health volunteers (FCHVs), commonly known as “Mahila swoyemsewika”, which means “female volunteer”. Their roles were to support family planning in the early days, especially by distributing birth control pills and condoms. Gradually, their roles were extended to include other programmes. The volunteers are influential in achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals and other targets. This programme has been the backbone of the health system in Nepal for the past three decades.

References

Khatri RB, Mishra SR, Khanal V. Female community health volunteers in community-based health programs of Nepal: future perspective. Front Public Health. 2017;5:181.

Panday S, Bissell P, Van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P. The contribution of female community health volunteers (FCHVs) to maternity care in Nepal: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017;17:623.

Marasini B. Health System Development in Nepal. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2020;58(221):65-8.

Kandel N, Lamichhane J. Female health volunteers of Nepal: the backbone of health care. Lancet. 2019;393(10171):19-20.

Radl CM, Rajwar R, Aro AR. Uterine prolapse prevention in Eastern Nepal: the perspectives of women and health care professionals. Int J Womens Health. 2012;4:373-82.

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Published

2022-03-25

How to Cite

Lageju, N., Neupane, D., & Jaiswal, L. S. (2022). The female community health volunteers: unsung heroes. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9(4), 1935–1936. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20220877

Issue

Section

Letter to the Editor