In partnership with Green Tara Nepal, we have implemented a nurse capacity building program, the Terese Bassi Initiative, which provides training for rural nurses in obstetric and neonatal emergencies. We are giving nurses the knowledge and tools they need to save two lives in childbirth. Our program is in the Nawalparasi district, where mortality rates are three times the national average. The Terese Bassi Initiative will reach over 2,600 mothers and newborns within two years. Maternal and neonatal mortality can be decreased by 74% through interventions only focused on increasing skilled care at delivery. That's why we are putting our money on nurses - the frontline providers. 

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Investing in maternal health has numerous implications not only for women, but also for the health and future of children and communities worldwide. By implementing this project, we seek to ensure that every woman in Nawalparasi District can enjoy her fundamental right to reproductive health and that every child has his or her right to a healthy start in life. Gender equality is a fundamental human right. Despite international commitments, women and girls continue to have fewer economic opportunities than men, less access to education, less political representation, and increased health risks especially related to reproductive health. Not only is gender equality a fundamental human right, it is necessary for a prosperous and thriving world. 

 

Empowered women and girls contribute to the health and productivity of their families and communities, resulting in resounding benefits for the international community. Safeguarding the human rights of women and girls not only provides half the world with the opportunities to reach their own full potential, but also aids the world in achieving a multitude of international development goals.

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At the 1789 Fund, we are committed to making the world a safer place for mothers and newborns. We believe that in order to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, it is essential to simultaneously focus on poverty and gender inequality and its direct effect on health outcomes. We are investing in women and girls through supporting women's cooperatives and initiating health system capacity-building programs in developing nations.  We firmly believe gender inequality and women’s socioeconomic status significantly impact the overall health of women and their families. 

 

In addition to the Terese Bassi Initiative, the 1789 Fund partners directly with local women’s cooperatives in Nepal and Uganda to support the economic empowerment of local women. We believe that this will help bridge the gap between gender inequity and health outcomes. Upon successful program implementation in Nepal, the 1789 Fund will work to create similar health capacity-building and economic empowerment programs in other nations with high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.