HEALTH
HEALTH is a major project for CHANCE for NEPAL. Preventing accidents in the home, and addressing issues caused by poverty, poor nutrition and lack of health facilities are all in areas which CHANCE does crucial and lifesaving work.
In Nepal, adult life expectancy is only 59 years. 40% of children come from extremely poor families in which 48% of children are malnourished.The mortality rate of children below 5 years of age is 61 per 1,000 births in Nepal. Health is a major project for CHANCE for NEPAL.
KANTI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AND BURNS UNIT (22 beds)BURNS
In NEPAL, many people cook on open fires, especially in the villages, and incidents of appalling burns in children are sadly a common occurrence: a mother may go outside to get wood or do chores, a boiling pan is left unattended and a toddler wanders over and pulls down the scalding water.
At the Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu, the only children’s hospital specifically for children in Nepal, there is a specialist Burns Unit. All children coming to the unit receive a ‘goody bag’ with fun things inside to amuse them, and a soft, cuddly toy: a CHANCE for NEPAL initiative.
As burns’ victims require a diet high in protein to heal, CHANCE for NEPAL funds weekly baskets of protein-packed food recommended by medical staff including a protein complement, glucose, eggs, fruit and juice.
In 2016 CHANCE for NEPAL enabled CHANCE’s partner on the ground, Burns Violence Survivors Nepal (BVS Nepal) to deliver 901 such baskets to the Kanti Children’s Hospital, 80 to the Trauma Hospital and 130 to the Teaching Hosptial. In 2017 CHANCE estimates that the same number – or more – baskets will be delivered.
CHANCE for NEPAL also funds physiotherapy (to aid patients’ recovery) and counselling (for patient and parents who may have to live with permanent disfigurement) at the Kanti Children’s Hospital and Teaching Hospital.
CHANCE for NEPAL also set up an Emergency Fund to help parents meet the cost of travel to and from the hospital – and also of food for the relative staying with their child. This is used at the discretion of the experienced team at BVS who assess the financial needs of the family.
Here CHANCE for NEPAL provides funds for skin graft operations; physiotherapy six days a week; a weekly high-protein, nutritional food basket for each patient; specialized creams and bandages; three counsellors four times a week providing ongoing psychological help to patients and their families; and emergency help for the family including medicines, transport and food.
THE HERROD FOUNDATIONThrough CHANCE for NEPAL The Herrod Foundation has been giving generous support for over 8 years and funds up to 35 skin graft and debridements each year along with medicines and emergency care at both the Kanti Children’s Hospital and the Teaching Hospital.
RADIO CONTACT
An exciting new initiative for 2016 is providing training in the prevention of accidents in the home. A radio programme, funded by CHANCE for NEPAL, is transmitted from The Teaching Hospital and interviews doctors, plastic surgeons, the head sister of the Burns Unit, parents and the patients themselves: children who have experienced terrible burns. The doctors advise on ways to stop such accidents occurring. This vital, half-hourly programme goes out once a month and was the initiative of BVS in Nepal and ACORAB Community radio. The programme will reach 73 of 75 regions through a network of 200 community radio stations throughout Nepal.
In the remote villages of Nepal, most of the villagers depend on radio to keep in touch – and so most families will be tuning in!
DHUBICHOUR
Since the 2015 earthquake, GMIN has built many homes, shelters and schools in remote areas. One example is the new health post in Dhubichour, 450km from Kathmandu which opened in 2016 and is attended by a visiting doctor and two resident nurses (one being a midwife). CHANCE for NEPAL funds the costs of running the health post – which will benefit 2,500 people – including all medications, vaccines, a computer for the data to be collected and a printer.
In 2017, in the remote area of Surkhet CHANCE aims to cover the cost of building a new health post and meet the running costs through GMIN.
HEALTH IN SCHOOLSTRIPLE GEM AND SHREE SECONDARY
CHANCE for NEPAL extends its work to improve health in schools, where nutrition for the very young is vital. For example, a daily cup of milk given to pupils in the lower school at Triple Gem School and a ‘Tiffin’ meal at Shree Secondary School in Chitwan.
| Mountain Heart Nepal |
Such wonderful compassionate work by the brilliant organisation Mountain Heart Nepal. CHANCE is delighted to have played a small role by funding the medicines for the weeks health camp. 2000 people examined and treated, amazing. Please read Aban Gautam's report below. The photograpghs show the tragedy and yet in such adversity the children still manage a smile. They tell the story so well (have a tissue to hand)! They give an indication of the numbers involved and the hard work by all involved during the camp. Please donate directly through MHN or Chance. Thank you. #healthTerai Flooding Medical Response Program (Free Medical Camp)
The continuous downpour, subsequent floods and landslides have so far claimed over 1200 lives and displaced thousands of people in South Asia in recent weeks. The southern region of Terai in Nepal was hit the worst, with over 150 casualties and an estimated 100,000 homes destroyed by the worst episode of rainfall in over a decade. Though the rains are slowly subsiding in recent days, the situation remains grim. A great blow has been dealt to the densely-populated agricultural areas, with many crops destroyed and livestock lost. Many people remain missing and rescue workers are obstructed by difficult access, limited communication and damaged roads. Furthermore, there is now an acute shortage of drinking water and the region is at high risk of being hit by food shortages.
This disaster has prompted local Nepali and international relief organisations to act quickly. Funded by CHANCE for Nepal (UK) and Direct Relief, and supported by Help Nepal Network and Nepal Ministry of Health, we too wanted to apply our experience in disaster relief where it was most needed and set off to the Terai on August 19th. During our six day expedition, we covered the hard-hit communities of Jhapa, Morang, Itahari, Biratnagar, and Sunsari. We were able to examine and treat around 2000 people. The situation remains dire in the southern part of Nepal and, on top of taking a severe blow to their livelihood; the displaced populace is now at risk of falling victim to outbreaks of massive epidemics.
Our thoughts and care are with all those affected. If you want to learn more on how you can help by making a contribution, please refer to the links below. We would also like to thank our partner organization, Chance for Nepal for funding us and supporting us with the acquisition of much-needed medication and Direct Relief for helping us with logistics and transportation. Lastly, we would also like to thank Becky McLaren for donation of 150 GBP towards the project.
MHN Free Medical Camps were conducted in the following locations of Terai Region:
1. Britamod -2; Baluwatar; Charpane; Jhapa - 189 Patients
2. Sharanamati -9; Madargacha; Jhapa Gau Palika - 300 Patients
3. Urlabari-4; Morang - 45 Children
4. Bardanga-4; Chaita; Morang - 427 patients
5. Jantoki-1; Anantol; Katahari Gau Palika; Morang- 120 Patients
6. Baklauri-6; Ramdhoni: Sunsari - 412 Patients
7. Narsing; Bhokraha Gau Palika; Sunsari - 482 Patients
Donate to support our cause:
www.chancefornepal.org/donations/
www.ammado.com/nonprofit/mhn
| Mountain Heart |
Please help if you can. Please share this post with your friends. No amount is too small. THANK YOU #healthWe have received the following medicines from Help Nepal for our mobile medical camp in flood affected areas:
1. Amoxycillin Syrup
2. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen Syrup
3. Azithromycin
4. ORS
5. Domperidone
6. Calamine Lotion
7. Multivitamin
8. Fluconazole
9. Salbutamol
10. Cirpofloxacin
11. Cetrizine Syrup
12. Metronidazole Syrup
13. Metronidazole
14. Omeprazole
15. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen
We are travelling to with a team of 5 Doctors and 2 Nurses. YOU CAN HELP US TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. Please make your donation which will be used to buy lifesaving medicines by going to our partner organization website– www.chancefornepal.org then donate. Remember that no amount is too large or too small, but to donate any amount will ultimately help us reach our goal! THANK YOU. Please share.