January 23: Smart Telecom has joined hands with the USAID to support Suaahara II program, which ensures that new mothers receive real-time counseling and support for 1000 days after giving birth. 

The telecom company said in a statement that it signed a MoU in this regard with the project which is being implemented by Helen Keller International Nepal. As a telecom partner, Smart Telecom has pledged to provide free SIM cards to selected Suaahara beneficiaries as well as volunteers at Rs 99 per SIM card.

Smart Telecom had earlier announced to distribute 6,000 SIM cards in two of Suaahara II program districts – Nuwakot and Kapilvastu.

Smart has already implemented and distributed 3500 Smart SIMs to beneficiaries in Nuwakot in the first phase of the program and will be fulfilling its commitment in the next phase.

The partnership will help the mothers communicate via their mobile phones free for 1000 days with Suaahara’s frontline workers. In the process, the frontline workers can work efficiently and communicate frequently with the mothers to provide them real time counselling and technical support.

One of Suaahara’s major challenges has been reaching out to individual households due to the rough topography and unavailability of safe public transportation. The free SIM which also provides 100 minutes free talk time in a closed user group will support the program’s frontline workers to frequently reach out to the mothers and continue follow up.

Real time counselling along with continuous follow up with the mothers is crucial in changing their behaviours to improve their and their children’s nutrition status.

The USAID-supported Suaahara II program is working to improve the nutritional status of women and children in at least 1.5 million households across 40 districts of Nepal. This will be achieved through multi-sectoral partnerships with the Government of Nepal, the private sector, and other development partners.