Prem Raj Awasthi- Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to individuals and organizations making extraordinary contributions to human welfare, global peace, and justice. This year, the prestigious prize has been awarded to the grassroots movement ‘Nihon Hidankyo,’ composed of survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings. With the recognition of Nihon Hidankyo, advocating for nuclear disarmament, it is timely to discuss the role of Nepal’s grassroots female community health volunteers (FCHVs) who work tirelessly without any compensation.

More than 50,000 female health volunteers (46,888 in rural areas and 5,328 in urban areas) are selflessly serving communities from the capital city of Kathmandu to the remote corners of Nepal. These volunteers are engaged in distributing family planning materials, iron tablets to pregnant and postpartum mothers, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), providing health education, establishing connections between local health centers and the community, especially focusing on maternal and newborn services, and providing initial support during home births.

The significant role of female community health volunteers in providing grassroots health services, including sanitation, deserves global recognition. Their work has considerably reduced maternal and child mortality rates in Nepal and empowered countless women. It is time for the world to honor the efforts of Nepal’s female health volunteers with the Nobel Peace Prize. The Female Health Volunteer program was established nearly 46 years ago in 2045 BS. Today, especially in rural and remote areas, the network of female community volunteers has become the backbone of the health service system. In regions with a rare presence of healthcare workers, female community health volunteers continue to serve as the first responders in health services and emergencies.

The most significant contribution of female community health volunteers is reducing maternal and child mortality rates. Decades ago, in Nepal, especially in rural areas entrenched in poverty, lacking infrastructure, and burdened by harmful traditions, the situation of infant and maternal deaths was dire. Through prenatal and postnatal care, vaccinations, safe delivery, family planning, and nutrition promotion, female health volunteers have directly contributed to a notable reduction in maternal and child mortality rates. In 1996, Nepal’s maternal mortality rate dropped from 539 per 100,000 live births to 151 per 100,000 in 2021. This significant achievement is credited to the tireless efforts of female community health volunteers.

Female community health volunteers have also made equally remarkable contributions to reducing child mortality rates. In Nepal, the under-five mortality rate has decreased from 162 per 1,000 births in 1990 to 22 per 1,000 in 2024. This achievement is undoubtedly a result of the continuous efforts of female health volunteers in promoting breastfeeding, sanitation, and educating mothers. Activities such as promoting vaccination programs within communities and providing basic health services like distributing Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) have been pivotal in reducing child mortality rates.

Despite challenging geography, remote rural areas, lack of transportation infrastructure, and seasonal disasters, the work of Nepal’s female community health volunteers is special because they serve their communities without any compensation. These female community health volunteers are the heroes of our society. Volunteers are the first point of contact for pregnant women, newborns, and sick children. Female community health volunteers walk for hours in remote villages, sometimes ignoring floods and landslides, to provide essential health services, promote vaccination programs, educate the community, and refer patients to health facilities when necessary.

The work of female community health volunteers is voluntary and does not come with a fixed salary like employees. Yet, they remain committed to their service despite the tough challenges. Often, these volunteers are like doctors to the people living in remote areas. Not limited to the health sector, they also engage in other social services and empower women.

In addition to their role as health volunteers, FCHVs  have also played a significant role in social change at the grassroots level. It would not be an exaggeration to say that these FCHVs  are part of Nepal’s largest and most successful women’s empowerment movement. They are involved in addressing women’s grievances, fighting against gender violence, and raising women’s voices locally. Indirectly, FCHVs have supported thousands of women and contributed to women’s upliftment. They have also become the voice for the voiceless women.

The health volunteer program has played a remarkable role in developing women’s leadership at the grassroots level. Nepal’s Female Community Health Volunteer program is a brilliant example of women’s empowerment. The work of Nepal’s female health volunteers has significantly contributed to the global goals of promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Recognizing the contributions of these hardworking women will surely inspire community health, gender equality, justice, and women’s empowerment efforts worldwide.

The work of Nepal’s female community health volunteers is not only about improving health conditions but also establishing women’s leadership at the grassroots level through health initiatives. By ensuring fundamental rights like health in marginalized and remote areas, female community health volunteers contribute to achieving sustainable development goals. Even during the armed conflict in Nepal, volunteers served in conflict affected areas. Similar to Nihon Hidankyo’s efforts in raising awareness about the horrors of nuclear weapons and promoting peace through disarmament, Nepal’s female health volunteers bring about changes in millions of lives by providing life-saving education, raising awareness about vaccination programs, and empowering women, thereby contributing to peace and justice at the community level.

Therefore, it’s time for the world to recognize the significant role of female health volunteers in Nepal’s health sector and gender empowerment. Honoring their work with the Nobel Peace Prize would inspire women working at the community level, not just in Nepal but globally. While Nihon Hidankyo is drawing worldwide attention through the Nobel Peace Prize, it’s time for the world to acknowledge the selfless work of Nepalese women at the grassroots level. The Nepalese government, civil society, and international development partners should all support lobbying for Nepal’s female community health volunteers for the Nobel Peace Prize. Their role in reducing maternal and child mortality and contributing to local women’s empowerment should be showcased as an example worldwide. With collective effort, we might not have to wait long to hear the good news of female community health volunteers receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize symbolizes hope and inspiration for future generations, not just a recognition of past achievements. Awarding Nepal’s female health volunteers with the Nobel Peace Prize would further empower active women at the grassroots level worldwide.

(These are personal views of authors working in the United Nations.)

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