The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is organizing a week long workshop in “Maternal and Child Health Promotion from Gender Perspective 2013” from December 01- 07, 2013 in Godavari  Lalitpur Nepal.

According to a press release issued by KOICA-Nepal, total 27 participants from three South Asian countries Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal who have ample knowledge in maternal and child health sector are participating in the program. Resident Representative of KOICA Nepal Office Ms. HaengLan Jo mentioned

“This is the first case that KOICA Nepal Office hosts a field workshop with the participation from the three different countries in South Asia,” and “I hope the program will provide a platform where all participants can share the updates on the maternal and child health situation and improve individual capabilities to implement related programs to solve the given challenges in each country.”

Also, Dr. Padam Bahadur Chand, Chief of Policy Planning and International Coordination Division from Ministry of Health and Population welcomed all invitees from Bangladesh and Myanmar to Nepal, in order to see the Nepal’s experience which shows how Nepal’s health policy is implemented in the real field.

The prime objective of the workshop is to share the status of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) condition and responses in 3 countries in Asia and Korea. At the same time it is also expected that the program will contribute in improving capability to set up and implement programs for maternal and child health from gender-sensitive perspective. During the program, each participants will develop MCH programs for their regions considering gender issues. The workshop includes in-depth lectures to share Nepal’s experience as well as field visits in two different service centers such as Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Thapathali and Dhulikhel Hospital in Kavre.

KOICA has been implementing this fellowship program in Maternal and Child health promotion from gender perspective as a multiyear capacity development program since 2012. Until now 36 participants from afore mentioned countries have joined the program in Korea in this area.

KOICA’s health strategy gives priority to maternal and child health and other interventions to improve in the reproductive health services. Here in Nepal, KOICA is also implementing a project in collaboration with UNICEF with an aim to bridge the gaps of inequity in the health sector by reaching the unreached, the most vulnerable and marginalized women and children in the western as well as eastern plains.

KOICA is working every little bit to strengthen the capacity of the health system to make it more responsive to provide equitable gender and child friendly services in its partner countries.