Since its establishment, Green Tara Nepal (GTN) has been working in promoting health of people, particularly through a health promotion approach. Health promotion today has globally emerged as a separate identifiable stream of public health; it is still a relatively new concept in Nepal. It is a process of enabling people to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health’.

GTN aims to change behaviors of the targeted communities through health promotion strategies. Most maternal child health interventions in Nepal focus on improving the provision of medical services, with no behavior change intervention. Their projects focus on behavior change using a systematic and intensive community intervention that includes strengthening government coordination and support. This is being scaled-up from three previous successful projects: a pilot project in Kathmandu; a second site in Nawalparasi (bordering with India), and third in Dhading. All these projects have shown significant changes in target indicators within 3 years compared to control areas.

The approach will be intensive, targeting one ward (earlier one VDC) in Dhading. The area lies in rural Dhading, where majority of the population belongs to ethnic groups, e.g. Tamang. Access to basic MNCH services is relatively poor. Teen marriage and pregnancy is very common and polygamy is a major problem.

Where will the funds go?

The funds raised will be utilized in improving the health of children, adolescents and women living in rural communities through changing behaviors using health promotion techniques and strengthening existing services.