Brief of the Project
The BISWAS Project aims to improve the health and well-being of communities in targeted municipalities of Koshi Province by strengthening the local health system to integrate NTD and MNH services. The project adopts a dual approach:
- Supply-side strengthening – enhancing the capacity, accountability, and quality of health service delivery.
- Demand-side empowerment – mobilizing communities, improving health-seeking behavior, and reducing stigma and discrimination.
The project is implemented in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), the Provincial Health Directorate, and local municipalities. The primary beneficiaries include people affected by or at risk of NTDs, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their families, pregnant and lactating mothers and neonates, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), Health Facility Operation and Management Committee (HFOMC) members, and health workers and municipal authorities.
The geographic focus of the program covers all municipalities and rural municipalities in Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari districts. Even though the project was implemented in 44 rural/municipalities of Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari districts, however, the project activities were tailored for the community level in 25 municipalities, mostly bordering India, i.e., rural municipalities with a high burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), specifically, 10 in Jhapa, 7 in Morang, and 8 in Sunsari. These targeted areas include clusters with high concentrations of poor, marginalized, and hard-to-reach populations.
Objective: To conduct a comprehensive endline evaluation to assess the project’s achievements against its stated objectives, outputs, and outcomes. This evaluation serve as a baseline assessment for the planned new phase of the project in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, and the newly included Saptari district.
The main purpose of the study is to:
- Assess the overall achievement of the BISWAS project and establish endline/baseline values for the new phase project to estimate the current situation of neglected tropical diseases and maternal and neonatal care
Team: Dr. Janak Thapa, Dr. Deependra Kaji Thapa, Ms. Sushant Luitel, Ms. Pabitra Magar