IMNCH Project Improvement of New Born and Child Health (IMNCH) project aims at improving environment of newborn and child health care comprehensively by enhancing health system from community, district level to national level and implementing necessary infrastructure improvements.

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan, with the support of ADRA Japan/ADRA Nepal and Local Implementing Partner Environment and Rural Development Centre (ENRUDEC), the IMNCH Project has been implemented in Banke district covering all government health facilities of the district. The major target groups of IMNCH project were pregnant women, neonates and children under 5 years old. Though this project, Environment and Rural Development Centre (ENRUDEC) aims are to improving the environment of neonatal and child health comprehensively based on the “Community Based Integrated Management of Neonatal Childhood Illnesses (CB-IMNCI) Program” of the Ministry of Population and Health of Nepal. The project includes an upgrading of health facilities with birthing facilities and enlightenment of the community, strengthening the cooperation with private medical workers, improvement of the quality of health care services and capacity of public health care providers, staff of Health Office (HO) and Family Welfare Division (FWD).

For instance, the project will raise awareness of communities about when to consult with Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV), how to prevent childhood diseases, which cases need to be handled at health facilities, when to go to health facilities etc. As for improving the quality of health services, the project will strengthen capacity of FCHV to care for patients and pregnant women, promoting referrals to health facilities. The project also makes it possible to properly implement CB-IMNCI program through facility upgrade/repair and introduction of new medical equipment.