Rehabilitate 1000 Persons W. Disabilities in Nepal

Dear Friends,

 Greetings!

We hope you are in good health.

After spending years working within communities, we recognized specific needs of individuals with disabilities. This motivated to start a project aimed at assisting 1000 people with disabilities in Nepal. In the Himalayan regions, individuals with disabilities often find themselves isolated at home, lacking access to essential assistive devices, physiotherapy services, and specialized healthcare.

Bal Sundari Shahi (name changed), a 33-year-old woman with a disability from Soru-9, Khanaya, Mugu, faced an unimaginable disaster when a life-changing accident left her bedridden for eight years. Despite the challenges, her unwavering spirit and the support of the Independent Living Program (ILP) at ILC, Lalitpur, transformed her life. Through regular physiotherapy and determination, Bal Sundari not only regained her mobility but also found hope and possibilities.

Following a tragic accident resulting in a spinal injury, Bal Sundari was abandoned and confined to her home in Khanaya, Mugu. Her life was marked by dependence and frustration.

In May 2023, PHASE Nepal enrolled her in the USAID Local Works: Mugu's Independent Living Program (ILP) at ILC, Lalitpur. Over 10 days, she received physiotherapy, marking a turning point in her life. After the ILP, she continued physiotherapy at the Shining INF Hospital in Birendranagar, Surkhet.

Bal Sundari experienced remarkable physical improvements, gaining independence in her movements, the ability to write, and proficiency with a wheelchair. These achievements fueled her confidence and determination for an independent future.

Now residing with her sister in Surkhet, she continues physiotherapy at the Shining INF Hospital and aspires to acquire computer skills. Bal Sundari plans to establish a business in Surkhet, offering typing, photocopying, and printing services, contributing to her community's well-being.

Bal Sundari Shahi's journey from bedridden and dependent to an independent entrepreneur showcases resilience and support's transformative power. With the ILP's assistance, she regained mobility and now aims for a self-sufficient future. Her story is an inspiration, proving that determination and support can conquer life's most daunting challenges. Bal Sundari is a true survivor.

We kindly request your assistance. Currently, we are seeking your support to provide assistive devices and to facilitate skill training and the initiation of economic activities aligned with their interests for individuals with disabilities.

Our objective with this project is to help 1000 people living with disabilities who are facing urgent requirements for essential healthcare, physiotherapy, assistive services, and opportunities for livelihoods in their homes, much like those we have described. To achieve this mission, we are relying on your support to address the unique needs of people with disabilities in the most isolated communities of Nepal.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

At the moment, we have a success story of Dal Bahadur Singh (name changed), a 4.5-year-old boy and the son of Punikala Kami. He is a permanent resident of Soru Rural Municipality, Ward Number 6, Purumuru, Mugu. Dal Singh has been diagnosed with both physical and speech disabilities. He comes from a family with a poor socioeconomic background, consisting of eight members, including his mother, father, and five siblings.

During a screening conducted by PHASE Nepal to identify people with disabilities, a physiotherapist observed that Dal Bahadur Singh has multiple disabilities requiring physiotherapeutic treatment to develop motor control. When PHASE Nepal staff met Dal Singh in the community, he was being carried on his mother's back. Upon requesting his mother to lay him down on the floor, PHASE Nepal staff noticed that he was able to maintain a side-sitting position, with one hip in abduction and external rotation, while the other hip was in adduction and internal rotation. He exhibited a lack of control over his pelvis, and drooling of saliva was also observed. During the examination, we observed that he was responsive to the therapist's gestures and partially followed commands (albeit with some confusion). Additionally, there was a slight increase in tone in his bilateral ankle plantar flexors. The physiotherapist concluded that Dal Singh had delayed motor development and speech disability, with a possibility of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

The physiotherapist believes that there is a good prognosis for Dal Singh if he receives proper physiotherapy and other healthcare services, such as speech therapy, in a timely manner. A comprehensive intervention plan was devised by the physiotherapist team, which includes neurodevelopmental treatment, gait training with manual support, supported standing, stretching exercises for bilateral ankle plantar flexors, hip flexors, hamstrings, hip adductors, piriformis, and targeted strengthening exercises focusing on individual muscle recruitment. Play therapy, such as horse riding with the aid of a log or pillow, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques, were also incorporated.

After six weeks of physiotherapeutic interventions, Dal Singh has begun crawling using reciprocal movements of his upper and lower extremities. His parents have been provided with instructions for daily home-based exercises, including stretching exercises with a 25-30 second hold, 30-40 minutes of gait training, supported standing, range of motion exercises, and limb positioning. PHASE Nepal staff planned to further improve his gait by introducing parallel walking bars, and he was also recommended a nutritional diet appropriate for his age.

Dal Bahadur Singh's mother expresses her gratitude to the entire team at PHASE Nepal and remains hopeful for her child's positive prognosis. Thank you for your support and kind donation!

With gratitude,

The PHASE Nepal Team