Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs)

In this article, author Keshab Poudel shares the experience of the Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) Programme in Nepal. According to the author, through the introduction of this programme, the rural population's access to modern health system has increased. The access of rural population to formal health sector is still low and the nation's target to reduce high infant mortality rate and high maternal mortality rate is taken up by 48,307 registered FCHVs who work in grassroots health sector.

The FCHVs are selected by local mothers' groups with the help of local health personnel and are provided 18 days of basic training on selected primary health care components. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, after the completion of basic training, FCHVs are provided with a kit box free of cost, consisting of paracetamol, tincher iodine, gentian violet, Oral Rehydration packet, condoms, pills cycle, cotton, bandages, scissors, a soap case with soap and a towel. The FCHVs are also provided with manuals, flip chart, ward register, information materials, FCHV bags, signboard and identity card. The role of the FCHVs is mainly focused on motivation and education of local mothers and community members for the promotion of safe motherhood, child health, family planning and other community health service.

From administering polio drops and Vitamin A capsules to Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and treating children with pneumonia and providing basic health information to women, this group of volunteers covers difficult mountainous terrain in Nepal reaching the rural household with a message of good health. According to the author, in a country with virtually nonexistent modern communication network, 48,307 FCHVs have developed their own way to communicate with the public to mobilise to administer Vitamin A capsules to 3.5 million children (6-59 months) and polio drops to 4.2 million children (aged 2-59 months) twice every year as part of the national immunisation strategy.