Launch of Joint Project with Kathmandu University

ASHA, a certified nonprofit organization (hereafter referred to as ASHA), launched two joint projects in July 2023 with Kathmandu University (Nepal): one focusing on digital primary healthcare and the other on health education implementation in Likhu Tamakoshi Village, Ramechhap District, Nepal. ASHA and Kathmandu University signed a collaboration agreement in January 2023, marking the beginning of their first joint program.

• Healthcare Environment in Likhu Tamakoshi

Likhu Tamakoshi Village, located in Ramechhap District, is 230 km away from Kathmandu and is a rural area with a population of around 30,000 people. The total area is 124.51 km² (approximately one-fifth the size of Tokyo's 23 wards), with much of it situated in mountainous regions, where road infrastructure is underdeveloped.

In Likhu Tamakoshi Village, there are seven basic healthcare facilities, and maternal and child health programs are also being implemented. However, there is a significant disparity in the utilization of healthcare services in areas such as lifestyle diseases and pregnancy care. This disparity has led to a deterioration in the overall health of the population, making it a key issue to address.

Despite the fact that appropriate healthcare services and self-care practices could prevent the worsening of health conditions, geographic challenges, with many mountainous areas, and social factors, such as a lack of basic knowledge about health and medical care necessary for maintaining well-being, create a situation where people are less likely to adopt desirable health behaviors. This has been identified as a contributing factor to the region’s health issues.

• Joint Project with Kathmandu University in Likhu Tamakoshi

  In order to address the healthcare challenges in Likhu Tamakoshi, the project will be carried out primarily around two key areas: 1. Digital Primary Healthcare Community Health Workers (CHWs), employed from the local population, will visit pregnant women, children under two years old, and patients with chronic diseases on a monthly basis. During these visits, they will use an application called “ASHAConnect,” which enables domain-specific medical interviews, alerts for potentially high-risk patients, educational content such as videos for resident and patient education, and management of home visits.
  

  2. Implementation of Health Education

  The project will focus on basic first aid, a practical skill that can be applied in daily life. A one-hour lecture and practical session will be conducted for middle school students. Kathmandu University will provide support by participating in project meetings, conducting various evaluations, overseeing the medical aspects, providing technical assistance in system and app development, and recruiting volunteers for health education training as instructors. Together, we will advance the project.