Programs
Child Health Division under the Department of Health Services was given the mandate to lead the HPV Vaccination Demonstration Project making it essential that NFCC collaborates with them both for the vaccination as well as integration of cervical cancer screening in vaccination sites and catchment areas.
NHEICC has the primary mandate of developing and disseminating all health related communication materials both for health workers as well as the general public. NHEICC develops communication materials in all local languages in Nepal and across all mass media platforms. NFCC collaborates closely with NHEICC to develop relevant materials for cervical cancer awareness.
Under the Department of Health Services of the Ministry of Health and Population is the National Health Training Center (NHTC) which is the sole body responsible for all trainings related to the provision of health services across Nepal. Cervical cancer screening trainings are provided by the NHTC. NFCC is an accredited training site of NHTC and allowed to conduct all RH trainings including VIA/SVA to mandated health workers following the protocol developed by NHTC. NFCC provides detailed information and list of participants to NHTC after each training it conducts to ensure mainstreaming of essential Human Resources data into Government database.
The Family Welfare Division falls under the Department of Health Services of the Ministry of Health and Population and is the focal Division for all Reproductive Health matters. All health services also fall under the purview of Family Welfare Division. The National Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention Program is led by the Family Welfare Division making it the focus of our advocacy and collaboration on any and all work related to cervical cancer and HPV.
NFCC has been developing a database of all health personnel who have been trained by the Government of Nepal to provide cervical cancer screening using VIA. The purpose of this database is to help Family Wealthfare Division have access to the list of trained current providers. The database also provides the basis to further analyze reasons why trained persons who either never started or stopped screening services and the reasons for the same. NFCC works with FHD to continually update this list.
NFCC has been lobbying for the integration of cervical cancer screening into reproductive health services with the RH camps conducted by FHD is an ideal platform to do so. While the integration of cervical cancer screening into the RH camps has already been included in the Implementation Plan developed by NFCC for FHD, NFCC continues to advocate for this and explore ways to work with the Government of Nepal on this.
In 2014, the Ministry of Health established a working group to help guide the process of piloting the HPV Vaccine Demonstration Project as well as the complementary cervical cancer screening in the target communities. NFCC was the only NGO member of the HPV Technical Working Group which comprises of all relevant government agencies, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO Nepal.
Focus: Solu-Khumbu
Donor: Pasang Lhamu / Nicole Niquille Foundation
NFCC trained health workers and then conducted HPV and VIA screening camps in various sites across Solu- Khumbu District. Those trained health workers were tracked and are providing Screening services through their health facility
Focus Area : Kavre, Dolakha and Sindupalchowk
Donor : WateraAid Nepal, SEBAC-Nepal
NFCC with various donors is rolling out MHM package that has been endorsed by the Family Health Division and Department of Education is being rolled out in 4 districts namely Kavre, Gorkha, Sindhupalchok and Dolakha. Department of women and children also is also integrated to roll this package in the communities. This package runs in the school through school system as well as within the communities and child clubs.
Focus Area : 12 Districts
Donor : Various
The roll out of the MHM package developed by NFCC and endorsed by the Family Health Division and Department of Education is being rolled out in a number of districts through collaborative partnership with a number of donors. While some donors are supporting the roll out of the package in communities in a district other donors are supporting its roll out through the school system on the same district.
Strengthening the Continuum of Care through Quality Sexual and Reproductive Health Programming, is a one year IMC funded program, strengthening the SRH services post-Earthquake in 24 VDCs of Gorkha. The program aims to strengthen the government’s capacity to coordinate, manage and oversee an integrated continuum of care and support, and, will build the capacity of health service providers to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in their community.
The project addresses the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of women and men of reproductive age in Gorkha district by first ensuring the availability and quality of Minimal Initial Service Package (MISP) services in health facilities. Furthermore, it will facilitate the transition of these service sites from provision of life-saving urgent care to comprehensive SRH services as soon as the situation allows.
Focus Area : Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Dhading & Gorkha
Donor : VSO ,GIZ &IMC
NFCC with various donors has rolled out MHM orientation package that has been endorsed by the Family Health Division and Department of Education.package has been rolled out in 4 districts namely Kavre, Gorkha, Sindhupalchok and Dolakha. Department of women and children also is also integrated to roll this package in the communities .This package runs in the school through school system as well as within the communities and child clubs.
Focus Area : National and Earthquake Affected Districts
Donor : WaterAid Nepal & International Medical Corps
NFCC in collaboration with WaterAid Nepal, International Medical Corps, and Family Health Division & Department of Education has conducted three rounds of national master training of trainers. First round of the training focused on developing trainers at the central level from Department of Health Services and Department of Education. The other two rounds of training were conducted for the development of master trainers from district level. These trainers were from District Health Office and District Education Office.
Focus Area : 27 VDC’s and 4 Municipalities in 5 Districts
Donor : Water Aid
After the earthquake in 2015, April NFCC along with WaterAid to address the issue of menstrual hygiene in earthquake affected areas distributed menstrual protection products. During this response session on hand washing and proper use and proper disposal of menstrual products were conducted.
Focus: National
Initiated by WASH United, the first Menstrual Hygiene Day was celebrated all over the world on 28thof May 2014 with the slogan Lets start the conversation on Menstruation. In Nepal, the program was led by NFCC in coordination with Government of Nepal and other bilateral partners.
NFCC has been celebrating Menstrual Hygiene Day was celebrated all over the world on 28thof May 2016 with the slogan ‘Men in Menstruation’. In 2016, the program was led by NFCC in coordination with NHEICC and FHD as well as other bilateral partners.
Focus Area : 3 Development Regions
Donor : University of Alabama at Birmingham
As part of the ongoing HPV study, HPV screening camps were conducted in three development regions, namely Eastern Development Region (Jhapa), Central Development Region (Lalitpur) and Far Western Development Region (Achham). All camps were conducted in close coordination with the local District Public Health Office. The Knowledge assessment questionnaires were conducted in all three camps to assess socio-demographic, reproductive health, HPV, cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. Women provided self-collected and clinician collected cervico-vaginal specimens. Samples were analyzed in United States and results communicated to women by NFCC field worker. All HPV positive women were referred for VIA test in nearby hospitals. Comprehensive follow up was done via phones.
Focus Area : National
Donor : Save the Children
NFCC developed Nepal’s first MHM package which was endorsed by the Family Health Division and Department for Education for integration into the School Health Program.The standardized MHM package roll out is a coordination and collaboration between the Family Health Division and the Department of Education
Focus Area : 15 VDCs’ of Saptari District
Donor : UNICEF
The Menstrual Hygiene Management Pilot Project in Saptari District was implemented in 15 VDCs of the district. The objective of the program was to assess the level of knowledge and understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Menstrual Hygiene Management and practices associated with Menstrual Hygiene Management among out of school adolescent girls from disadvantaged communities. All the said adolescent girls were GATE (Girl’s Access to Education) graduates. Sanitary napkin making training was also provided to the adolescent girls.
Focus: 2 districts
Donor: UNDP / Global Fund
Supported by United Nation Development Program (UNDP) under the Global Fund, NFCC was contracted to provide STI and VCT services in two districts, namely Chitwan and Banke. With many similarities to the STI Project in Kathmandu Valley, peer educators were mobilized and clinics provided STI checkup and HIV testing to high risk groups.
Project Duration: 2005-2008
In 2011, NFCC lobbied with the Family Welfare Division to apply for the GAVI HPV Vaccination demonstration project which was not fruitful as the relevant government agencies felt they were not technically ready to embark on such an undertaking. NFCC continued to lobby with concerned stakeholders as well as brought the topic up for discussions during the NCIP workshops. In 2013, WHO Nepal/Immunization department and Child Health Division with approval from the Ministry of Health formally applied for the GAVI Demonstration Project. NFCC was continuously consulted with by WHO Nepal in the preparation of this application which was approved by GAVI for implementation in 2014.NFCC was closely involved with the GAVI HPV Vaccination Demonstration Project planning, implementation and monitoring.
NFCC was the only NGO member of the HPV Technical Working Group which comprises of all relevant government agencies, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO Nepal. This working group was established by the Ministry of Health, Government of Nepal in 2014.