KU including it in midwifery curriculum
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BANEPA, Jan 26: Kathmandu University of Medical Science is set to include course on traditional Newari baby massage in its proposed midwifery curriculum. Dr Rajendra Shrestha, assistant dean of the university, stated that the step would take the Nepali massage method to a new height which has already been made quite popular by a Nepali woman Nasma Scheibler Shrestha beyond the country.
"Number of researches has been done on baby massage in Europe and also in Nepal. We are about to include the traditional Newari massage in our curriculum for midwifery course," he said further adding that course will come into effect once it gets approval of the university's academic council.
Even though not included in the course yet, KU hospital has organized such massage trainings and awareness programs for hospital nurses, female health workers and Ama Samuha on several occassions. And lead for this has been taken by Nasma, who has, for the initiative, grabbed media attention in Nepal even earlier.
She has become able to take the massage method to Europe and has been consistently working to popularize it within country in the later years. "The traditional Newari baby massage is wonderful. It's quite beneficial for baby and new mother" said Nasma who lives with Swiss husband in Switzerland and is currently in Nepal.
Nasma and her husband Dr. Giovanni Scheibler established the Vocational School for Babymassage, in Zurich in 1986. The couple since than has been providing baby massage training to midwife, pediatric nurses, physiotherapists and parents of new born babies across Europe.
"People knew little about baby massage in Switzerland. Even though baby would cry due to stomach pain, have appetite loss or indigestion, they would not massage babies. I started with few such parents, gave them tips or helped them do their babies' massage in traditional Newari style," elaborated Nasma. "First, they were reluctant to follow it. Later, as the benefits became evident, they became fond of it," she added.
According to Nasma, with growing number of hospitals and health care centers and similarly individuals taking interest in it, the massage method has become quite popular in Europe. "So far we have provide training to 170 people that includes two nurses from KU hospital as well," she informed.
In Newari tradition, oil massage to mother as well as baby is believed to be highly beneficial for both. Since new mothers' and babies' body is fragile, proper oil massage keep it fit, Nasma said.
"We cannot massage a new born with machine. It needs a caring and skilled hand. It's a sort of devotion shown to baby, emotional factor is involved," she elaborated. "I took help of midwifery from Bhaktapur, who were expert in traditional Newari massage, to popularize it in several European countries," Nasma added.
Nasma also expressed concerns that some Nepalis are forgetting their own culture of massage. "Till 90s, massaging mothers and babies was quite popular in Kathmandu and elsewhere in country, gradually people took it lightly," she remarked. "Mothers these days do not show zeal to massage their babies. Earlier, child would get proper massage till later years," Nasma, who was born and brought up in Bhimfedi, said.
Probably, Nasma would never venture the journey had she not given birth to baby in Switzerland in 1983. She had called her mother to Switzerland after giving birth to her baby girl, Jamuna. When the grandmother Haridevi prepared to massage Jamuna, that triggered shock and debate in the hospital, Nasma reminisced. "Why are you trying to massage your baby? She does not have any health complications, this was what nurses and others said," Nasma said.
"Some even mocked at it. And it was then, when I felt like telling them what Newari massage is," Nasma added. Nasma has been more active in Nepal since 2006. As a trainer she reaches out to health workers and mothers with massage tips and skills. "With the support of Swiss government and the KU Hospital, I have provided training to several health workers from Dhading, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk and Lalitpur so far. I wish to make it as popular as possible," she said. Attendees get both practical and theoretical training in her class.
According to gynecologist at the Dhulikhel hospital, Dr Abha Shrestha, Nasma is doing great job as the oil massage is indeed very helpful for baby and mothers' health. "It impacts both physically and mentally. It's very much important for developing emotional bond between the mother and child and for ensuring their fitness," she said.
