International Needs Australia (INA) is working to save the lives of mothers and babies, and tackle gender inequity and discrimination in Mid-West Nepal, through their Improved Outcomes for Maternal and Child Health project.

Much of the Rukum district where the project is located is rural and poor, with a heavy burden of health needs, leading to little awareness of safe motherhood care. Women in these communities, lacking basic health care and unaware of good ante and post-natal practices, suffer from a high number of pregnancy complications and unacceptable rates of infant and maternal mortality.

INA's program teaches women and men about the importance of seeking skilled care during pregnancy and the danger signs of knowing when something is not quite right, tackling the cultural beliefs and practices that undermine health and well-being.

Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) are trusted women in the community who are working alongside government health workers and Social Mobilisers (skilled birth attendants) to help destigmatise modern medical assistance so that mothers can receive the help they need to deliver their babies safely and raise healthy children.

Wearing their distinctive blue dresses, FCHVs are vital women networking on the ground to save the lives of mothers and their babies in Nepal. Mentored by the Social Mobilisers, FCHVs facilitate Safe Motherhood classes, where women are coached through their pregnancies. Since the project started, more than 14,000 women have participated in these classes, many now encouraging other women in their communities to attend.

The program also creates broad-based awareness amongst all segments of the community; reproductive health and family planning radio programs and school engagement programs drive wider behaviour change in Nepal's male dominated culture. Through the schools' program in particular, there has been a promising generational shift with adolescent boys asking thoughtful questions about why girls in the family and in their community are treated in a different manner.

Rita, 27 years old, is one of the many women who has been affected by the lack of awareness of safe motherhood practices, having felt the pain and trauma of losing her first child. From a low-income family, she struggled to feed her children good food, and although 6 months pregnant, had not sought health care.

A FCHV heard about her situation and referred her to the safe motherhood classes, where she has learnt about early warning signs of complications and the importance of ante-natal check-ups, as well as eating healthy and nutritious food. Now she is an influencer in her community, motivating other women in her situation to attend the safe motherhood classes.

INA works locally in partnership with Human Development and Community Services (HDCS) in Nepal, and is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).