The fastest way to change society is to mobilise the women of the world
8 March- On International Women’s Day, we reflect on the progress made for the well-being of women and we celebrate the acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in their communities. We share Muna’s story.
Muna, aged 34, is no stranger to her community. Wherever she goes, she is warmly welcomed and greeted by children, men and women alike with a familiar ‘Namaste’ in Nepali.
Muna’s village is nestled in the far-western region of Nepal, surrounded by rolling hills, around 800 km west from the capital city.
Despite its beauty, life is not easy here.
In remote areas in Nepal, like this one, the under-five mortality rate is 62 per 1,000 live births, while the national average is 54 per 1,000 live births. 63 percent of births still take place at home (Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, 2011).
Muna works as a Child Health Now campaign ambassador in village to change this.
Today involves a familiar, everyday scene. She travels door to door throughout her village in order promote parents’ use of the five measures which can tackle preventable child deaths: bed nets, oral rehydration salts, immunizations, exclusive breast feeding and skilled birth attendants. Muna also trains community members so that they can do the same.
But her work doesn’t stop there.
Muna tirelessly works to ensure that all pregnant women, mothers and children are accessing local health services which are provided in primary health centres by the government of Nepal.
Delivering babies in birthing centres is one particular key area that she passionately advocates for. Many expecting mothers in her village are not aware that the government of Nepal provides monetary incentives to women who complete four ante-natal check-ups and deliver their babies in birthing centres. Muna spreads the word.
Traditionally, women and newborns are isolated as ‘untouchables’ for almost 11 days after delivery, the period which is considered impure. This is a harmful cultural practice, as many new mothers and newborns miss out on the critical post-natal care which should take place within a week of delivery.
Adding to this challenge is the fact that fathers are often absent during pregnancy and birth. Jobs in the district are few, so men frequently migrate to India to work as labourers.
In the absence of their husbands, pregnant women and new mothers are left to tend to their cattle, fields and young children - often in that order. This increased workload poses a risk to the health of expecting mothers, their newborns and other children.
Muna has become a trusted figure and a role model to other women in her community
She shares, “In our community there are a lot of cultural superstitions regarding the dos and don’ts during pregnancy and childbirth. Today this is changing, as many women are aware of the benefits of going to the local health post and many pregnant women are opting to go to birthing centres. When new mothers and their children make regular visits to our health post I feel so rewarded. I enjoy my work and am happy to contribute to improve the health of children and women in our community.”
Like Muna, there are 72 Child Health Now campaign ambassadors in Doti district, 50 are women. As these ambassadors are able to impart health messages to communities through a familiar voice, they can have a greater influence and impact in bringing about behaviour change for the improvement of child and maternal health.
‘The fastest way to change society is to mobilise the women of the world’- Charles Malik.