KATHMANDU, July 9: Family Welfare Division, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Maternity Foundation (MF) launched a Nepali version of the widely used digital health tool, the Safe Delivery App - a mobile application that supports midwives and other healthcare professionals in ensuring safer births for women and newborns in low-resource settings.
According to a press statement issued by the UNFPA, the Safe Delivery App is an evidence-based learning and training tool designed to support midwives, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to assist during births and to manage the most common complications. Among other features, it contains the latest clinical guidelines, animated instruction videos, descriptions of practical procedures, and action cards. It is free and once downloaded on a smartphone or a tablet, it works offline, making it possible to be used even in the most remote areas.
To date, more than 435,000 healthcare professionals across more than 70 countries have been reached through the Safe Delivery App and the accompanying programme worldwide, with Nepal being the latest country to introduce the App.
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Speaking at the launch of the Nepali version of the Safe Delivery App in Kathmandu, Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, Director, Family Welfare Division, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population stated the Safe Delivery App complements and enhances the ongoing capacity building efforts by providing up-to-date lifesaving procedures and practical guidance in local language.
The maternal mortality rate in Nepal has been reduced significantly over the past 20 years. However, the current maternal mortality ratio of 151 is more than double the SDG global target of 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030.
According to Won Young Hong, the Representative of UNFPA in Nepal, “Globally every 2 minutes a woman dies, while in Nepal 2 women die every day due to pregnancy related complications - most of which are completely preventable. These are staggering numbers. This is why UNFPA is pleased to work with the Family Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Population and Maternity Foundation to localize this digital application so healthcare workers across Nepal can learn on the go and provide quality maternal healthcare to all mothers and newborns”.
“I’m pleased to announce the launch of the Nepali version of the Safe Delivery App in collaboration with our valued partners, the government of Nepal and UNFPA. We have been scaling up the Safe Delivery App and the accompanying programme across the world, and I’m beyond happy that we’ll now also be supporting midwives and other healthcare professionals in Nepal in ensuring safer births for women and babies,” says Anna Frellsen, CEO of Maternity Foundation.
The Nepali version of the App, which contains thirteen modules, has been developed in collaboration with UNFPA and Family Welfare Division, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population and other partners. In addition to the new Nepali version, the digital tool is also available in five global versions based on WHO guidelines (English, French, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese) and more than 30 language versions, adapted to national contexts and needs.
