News and Events

CDMA/ Mobile phones help mothers in remote areas

 

Reports from three districts (Solukhumbu, Rupendehi and Dailekh) where use of CDMA/ mobile telephones by peripheral health workers has been piloted are very encouraging. It was observed that the phones helped local health workers to diagnose and manage problems during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period in the community and facilitated prompt referral to the district hospital where needed, reducing delays in provision of treatment. The phones also promoted sharing of new health information heard on FM radio among all health workers, mothers, community health volunteers and other stakeholders. All users said they felt more confident in providing clinical services knowing backup was available from appropriate senior staff, such as doctors and staff nurses.
 
Case study: Use of CDMA phone helps a woman with obstetric complications in Solukhumbu
 
Sarmila Basnet’s family called the local MCHW, after Sarmila had delivered a premature baby, at seven months. An hour after delivery, the placenta had not been expelled and the baby’s sucking reflex was poor. Using her CDMA phone, the MCHW called the public health nurse at the district health office. She advised the MCHW on the procedure of active management of third stage of labour, talking her through the steps to ensure expulsion of the placenta, after which the mother’s vital signs became normal. However, the premature baby had poor sucking reflex, so the MCHW followed advice to wrap it in a cloth and warm it against the mother’s chest, giving it the mother’s milk with a spoon. Soon the baby improved and the family was advised to continue with kangaroo mother care, and ensure the baby is immunised. Now both are doing well.
 
Goli VDC, Solukhumbu, Report of FHD/ SSMP CDMA monitoring visit, 2009

08/03/2010 Ashima Shrestha SSMP