Support to transition and recovery of Nepal’s health system in post-earthquake situation

This was a one year program supported by DFID and led by Nepal Health Sector Support Program (NHSSP) from 1 August 2015 to 31 December 2016 to strengthen Nepal’s health care system in the post-earthquake situation. TPO Nepal implemented mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) component in four earthquake affected districts namely Dolakha, Ramechhap, Kavre and Nuwakot. The aim of the MHPSS component was to integrate mental health and psychosocial services into Nepal’s existing health system to address the psychosocial and mental health problems in the affected communities. This was achieved by building the capacity of district health office (DHO), primary health workers and female community health volunteers (FCHVs) on detection, management and referral of people with mental health and psychosocial problems.

The major activities conducted under this project were:

1. Training medical officers and primary health care workers (especially prescribers) on mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP)- humanitarian intervention guidelines (HIG)
2. Training the non-prescribers on basis psychosocial support
3. Supervision of health workers through monthly case conference
4. Training of FCHVs on community informant detection tool (CIDT) for identification and referral of people with mental health problems
5. Providing psychosocial and pharmacological treatment within the existing health care system
6. Establishing referral mechanism from community to tertiary care center