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To mark the International Day of Action for Women’s Health on May 28, WOREC organized an interaction program on the topic 'Women's Health and Self-Care amidst Covid-19' to inform the stakeholders about the interim guideline for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services during the Covid-19 pandemic. The program also aimed to discuss the current challenges faced by frontline health workers in their working area and address the pandemic's effect on mental health and coping mechanism. The program was organized to commemorate the International Day of Action for Women's Health
The program featured stakeholders including health coordinators, health post-in-charge, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANM), Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV), people's representatives from municipalities and wards, WOREC's counsellors and staff. A total of 71 people participated in the program.
Various studies have suggested that 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression and anxiety disorder. These mental health problems are often triggered by neurobiological factors and environmental stressors. And now, the Covid-19 and the consequences of preventive measures, like social distancing, have only exacerbated the situation for many new and expecting mothers.
During the prohibitory orders issued by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19, antenatal and postnatal visits all but stopped due to the lack of services and public transportation. As a result, many expecting and new mothers are unable to hold regular face-to-face consultations with midwives or hospital staff.
To assist expecting and new mothers along with women with health inquiries, WOREC has been running a phone-in counselling service to provide both clinical and psychological advice to worried mothers-to-be and new mothers, said Rupa Bhattarai, a psychosocial counsellor at WOREC.
"Many expecting and new mothers are undergoing stress and anxiety, compounded by fears over the Covid-19 and unable to get regular check-ups," said Bhattarai. Bhattarai said that she and her colleagues have been receiving calls from women to get information on sexual and reproductive health in the hotline service (i.e., 16600178910/16602152000) operated by WOREC.
Addressing the issue, Dharma Bahadur KC, Chairperson of Banphikot Rural Municipality, Rukum, said that since sexual, reproductive and mental healthcare is regarded as an essential service, health clinics in Banphikot Rural Municipality have been opened despite the pandemic to provide services to the people in need. "We are aware of the problems in accessing sexual, reproductive and mental health services due to the lockdown. Therefore, we have continued to provide health services amid the lockdown and pandemic," said KC.
A total of 71 people participated in the program.