Providing Free Health Services to 10,000 Villagers

“For something as simple as plasters during fractures or getting stiches for minor cuts, we have to walk for several hours to reach a health post in Gorkha Bazar. Had there been a health facility where we could get quality services even for minor health problems, it would be great help, even lifesaving at times for the community people,” said Ishwor Adhikari from AruPokhari VDC in the earthquake-affected Gorkha district during our Real Medicine Foundation (RMF) Nepal team visit to the area for needs assessment after the earthquake. 

As a non-profit humanitarian relief and development organisation, Real Medicine Foundation (RMF) is engaged in 21 countries running 47 active initiatives and has been working in Gorkha district after the earthquake to support long term health care, education and livelihood needs of the community. 

Through RMF Health Clinic, we are serving approximately 10-15 patients every day from Arupokhari and also from the surrounding villages of Tandrang, Chanaute and Dewrali.  Our aim is to provide critical medical care and support to the most marginalized and rural population.

A committee has also been formed consisting of 11 members representing various aspects of the society such as principal of the local school, VDC Secretary and local community social worker. This committee will provide advisory and other support to the clinic and would be key actors in any future RMF initiative in the area. The formation of the committee through democratic process, ensuring representation from women and different ethnic groups and marginalized communities will also contribute to enhancing local leadership and ensuring community ownership.

Some urgent needs that are raised by the community are establishment of a simple lab to carry out minor blood sampling and tests. At the moment delay in diagnosis and referral seem to be prime causes of mortality and morbidity. To tackle this, a simple lab to carry out basic tests was voiced as a need. Other main need of the community seems to be lack of birthing centers in the area. After the earthquake, most of them in and around the area was completely destroyed. To improve maternal and child mortality rate, the community requested for the possibility of establishment of a birthing centre.

Therefore, RMF is planning to support with the brithing centre and is also looking into establishment of a Lab Centre. 

Some of the other RMF initiatives in Nepal include:

• Support to the local school in AruPokhari through installation of pre-fab building damaged by the earthquake. 
• Improve the health, nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene status of the children at the Nepal Children's Organisation (NCO) through provision of residential nurses and medical supplies
• Through the generous support from GlobalGiving RMF will be constructing earthquake resistant houses for children at the NCO as safe housing for them is of immediate need.  We are in the process of seeking approvals from relevant government agencies.
• RMF is supporting the local NGO Social Action Volunteers (SAV) to provide various support programs to long-term care (two weeks or longer) patients and their caregivers on the non-paying ward of Kanti Children’s Hospital. Services and programs take various forms ranging from medicine, blood, investigation, transportation and food supplements for patient and their companions, shelter for family members, cooking facilities for families or complete coverage of both patient and family members.
• On 10th January, Social Actions Volunteer (SAV) in collaboration with RMF organised a trip to Sindhupalchok’s earthquake affected areas to support the local people and community with warm clothes and blankets as recently many earthquake victims started dying due to cold in this winter exacerbated by the blockade. 

Links:

• Detailed Project Reports