Mother and midwife: How Puspa is advancing maternal healthcare in West Nepal
Puspa at Lamatola Health Post
In the remote village of Lamatola, high in the hills of Bajhang district in West Nepal, Puspa Thapa balances two important roles - devoted mother and dedicated health worker. An Auxiliary Nurse Midwife at the Lamatola Health Post, Puspa provides essential maternal and child healthcare to her community, often going above and beyond the duties of her station.
Puspa’s journey into healthcare has not been without challenges. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she worked as a rotating midwife in Khaptadchhanna, raising awareness about the virus and maternal health services. However, when the program phased out, Puspa found herself without work. In April 2023, with support from Action for Nepal and the Australian Himalayan Foundation, she was given a chance to work at the Lamatola Health Post.
Despite her experience, Puspa had never received formal training as a Skilled Birth Attendant, a critical qualification for ensuring safe deliveries. That changed after an assessment identified the need for further staff training at the health post. In 2023, Puspa underwent Skilled Birth Attendant training at Dadeldhura Hospital, formally equipping her with the skills and confidence to care for mothers and babies during childbirth.
“In our health post, there are two Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, but the other is unable to provide full-time service due to her age and health,” Puspa explains. “So most of the maternal and child healthcare responsibilities fall on me. I absolutely don’t see it as a burden, I feel joy in serving my community.”
“I’m a mother myself, so I know how essential it is to receive good maternal and child health services. My in-laws help look after my child, but I still breastfeed throughout the day. Sometimes I run home to feed my child; other times, my in-laws bring the baby to me at work.”
Puspa’s extraordinary commitment to her work is admired in her community.
“As my home is near the health post I love to provide general services to people even after my working hours. When I go to provide community outreach services, I wrap my baby in a shawl, just like the other mothers do here, and head to the clinic sites to provide antenatal and postnatal check-ups, outpatient services and nutrition support, all while caring for my own child. ”
Puspa reflects on how much has changed since she received her birth attendant training and the new medical equipment arrived at the health post.
“I used to assist with deliveries, but I wasn’t confident. It was difficult, especially because the delivery bed was broken. Now, thanks to support from AHF and Action for Nepal, we have the proper tools and equipment at our disposal. The training has given me the skills to handle childbirth safely and it has bolstered my confidence. We also have a new delivery bed, timer, and room heater. They make a huge difference.
I feel extremely blessed to serve my community especially when I see the appreciation of the local people. I enjoy providing health services. It has been a dream of mine, which I can now say has come true. I am very thankful to AHF and Action for Nepal from the bottom of my heart."
Looking ahead, Puspa hopes to continue her education and further enhance her skills to better support mothers and newborns in her village.
Puspa’s story is a testament to the power of training, resources and unwavering dedication. Her work is changing lives, one safe delivery at a time.
This project is funded by generous Australian Himalayan Foundation donors and the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
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