Heal children's lives with corrective surgery

CORRECTIVE SURGERY PROGRAM: Over the past 10 months 125 children received corrective surgery with 30% done in Kathmandu and 30% done in 10 rural outreach camps including Butwal, Nepalganj, Pokhara, Suket, and Biratnagar. 

Kirtipur Cleft & Burn Center is a satellite facility of Kathmandu Model Hospital.  Although it is still under construction, the operating room suite, recovery room, and 20 bed ward is functioning to accomodate patients.  The CMAF sponsored patients are among those now being cared for in this new Kirtipur facility.  The Plastic Surgery Department will move from Kathmandu Model Hospital into the Kirtipur Cleft & Burn Center facility in July 2014 and at that time all surgical procedures will be done in Kirtipur.

CMAF has participated in the design and development of the Kirtipure Cleft & Burn Center's cafeteria.  This is a sustainable enterprise to support corrective surgery patients.   In April 2013 the kitchen staff was trained in food safety and sanitation by Nepal Vocational Hospitality Services(NVHS).  Weekly visits by NVHS will ensure that high standards are maintained and nutritional food is available for patients, visitors, and staff.  In November CMAF organized and supervised the preparation of 2 meals and 3 snacks a day for 40 people attending a 3 day conference in Kirtipur. This eliminated the need for catering and earned dollars for the cafeteria.  Within 12 months with the hospital and clinic in full operation we expect to be serving 300 - 400 meals a day and realizing a profit of  $1,000/month which translates to changng the lives of 5 children every month.

Shrawan Pandit is a sweet 2 year old girl with Symbrachydactly of right hand.  Any women with a visual disfigurement or handicap has a very difficult time in finding a husband.  An unmarried women is not respected and has limited opportunities for employment.  Shrawan will no longer be different from other little girls and now it is possible for her to marry a suitable husband. 

• Cafeteria_Pics.docx (DOCX)
• Kirtipur Cleft & Burn Center 2013 (DOCX)
  

I am back in Nepal, working with our Nepali partners to help expand Kirtipur Hospital's capacity to help children and families in need. We're focusing right now on the development of a cafeteria as a social enterprise that can raise funds for the hospital, including the Plastic Surgery and Burn Department that serves our target population. Such endeavors in Nepal require determination, resourcefulness, creativity, and adaptability. Three kitchen workers have been given a room in the Kirtipur Guest House to compensate for their low wages. Ramesh, the father of one of the cleft palate patients, wanted to show his gratitude by volunteering. Our Nepal Director of the Corrective Surgery Program, Dr. Rai, decided that, since Ramesh came from from Western Nepal (17 hours away by bus), he would need a place to stay as well. Ramesh was given a room and $10/month, along with placement as the cafeteria cashier, for which he is very grateful. His daughter and wife were able to return to family in Western Nepal, while he stayed to take care of his son.

When a patient is admitted to a hospital, there must be a relative or close friend to provide personal care for the patient. In a recent case at Kirtipur Hospital, the wife was the only person who could accompany her husband, and she had to bring all three of her children in tow: a 7-month-old, a 2-year-old, and a 7-year-old. The entire family has been by the patient's bedside for over three months, taking its toll on the patience of parents and the attention spans of children. During my last trip (I left in June), I helped establish a play area for children, arranged with wall charts and toys geared toward education and fun. Out of necessity, that area was taken over by hospital beds. Now I have claimed a room where the children can play and young volunteers can interact with visiting toddlers and long-term burn patients. 

There is so much more to be done, but always, the children are our inspiration to keep pushing for improved access to quality care. We have a fantastic team of volunteers and excellent logistical support from our Nepali partners. We are grateful to our donors who are helping us transform the lives of Nepali children struggling with congenital defects or disfiguring burn injuries.

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