Jhuwani Library is the first one to acquire international membership of Beyond Access, a network of community libraries around the world. Beyond Access had organized an Innovative Library Camp in America from 1 to 3 October. [break]The library camp was participated by 39 community libraries from around the world, including India and Bhutan.
The library was conferred with the US award for its proposed program of training and deploying 500 volunteers to help reduce the likelihood of pregnant women suffering damages to their uterus.
As per the proposal, the library will first provide training on information technology to the women in its network and use them as volunteers for providing information through internet, voice chats and recorded audio-visual materials on safe motherhood services to local women. The library´s proposal on expanding safe motherhood program by means of technology received the highest number of online votes, according to Library Chairperson Keshavraj Acharya.
Acharya further informed that they have already prepared a 9-month safe motherhood program and are preparing to implement it in near future.
“Not all pregnant women have easy access to hospitals. Some of them deliver baby in the ambulance itself, others are left to fend for themselves at such turbulent times with no alternatives. In lack of some basic knowledge, many women suffer from uterus related diseases while delivering baby,” said VDC secretary Tejendra Lamichhane.
“People liked the library´s proposal of giving advice and creating awareness through the audio-visual materials by women volunteers who´d make door-to-door visits for the purpose,” he further said.
Sharing his experience from the camp in the US, Lamichhane said that the competition was organized to find out how libraries can be useful other than providing books.
According to Sanjana Shrestha, Country Director of READ Nepal, the new program will educate pregnant women about dos and don´ts with the help of recorded audio-visual and signs. “Even a minor mistake during and after pregnancy can lead to uterine prolepses; even cervical cancer in some cases.
Women should be saved from these misfortunes,” said Shrestha.
Jhuwani Community Library that was established by local youths a decade ago, has started expanding its network to the neighboring villages.
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