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Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal

Pooja Pradhan - WHO Nepal

2024-10-16

World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Nepal’s only government tertiary care facility specializing in maternity care, for officially launching a Mental Health Outpatient Ward and newborn screening services.

With support from WHO Country Office for Nepal, the hospital established a dedicated #MentalHealth ward and related Standard Operating Procedures, which were inaugurated by the Honorable Minister of Health and Population. This initiative aims to reduce maternal deaths linked to mental health issues by offering specialized mental health care. It represents a comprehensive approach that is expected to serve as a model for other hospitals across #Nepal, contributing to the government's efforts to reduce maternal mortality and improve the quality of life for women and their children.

In collaboration with the Family Welfare Division (FWD) under the Ministry of Health and Population-Nepal and WHO, the hospital has also trained over 150 clinical staff on managing common mental health disorders during #pregnancy and postpartum, including #depression, #anxiety, #psychosis, and #stress management.

WHO is now working with FWD to develop a broader program framework on maternal mental health, integrating mental health care into maternal health services at both the primary and specialized care levels.