KOICA volunteer Ms. Kang Seon Yeong with the support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) completed her project, “Health and Environment Sanitation Improvement Project to reduce neonatal mortality” at Bheri Zonal Hospital, Napalgunj.

Bheri Zonal Hospital has recently opened new NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) which was supported through the KOV’s (Korea Overseas Volunteer) project in July, 2013. The purpose of this project is to decrease neonatal mortality at Bheri Zonal hospital by improving health service and human resource capacity. In this regard, the project has supported in equipping fundamental medical appliances for neonates, incubator and infant warmer etc, construction of Intermediate care unit, Intensive care unit and Rooming-in System which can protect neonates from infections. Besides this, the project also aims to advance the quality of nursing care through refresher courses in cooperation with Kanti Children’s Hospital. At present, advanced practice nurses are available twenty-four hours a day.

Volunteer program is one of the KOICA’s main projects to contribute to socio-economic development of the partner countries. KOICA dispatches Korean national volunteers to recipient organizations as per the needs of expertise, knowledge, and experience. Each volunteer serves in Nepal for 2 years in various fields such as education, health, ICT etc. Currently, three KOICA advisers and 54 KOICA volunteers are actively working in various government sectors in accordance with an agreement between both the governments of Korea and Nepal.