The Phuleli Community Health Center

Phuleli Community Health Center

We are very pleased to announce that The Small World has launched the full-time operation of the Phuleli Community Health Center, which serves the population of the lower Everest region. This area is home to many porter and farm communities in one of the most remote regions of Nepal, and its approximately 2,500 permanent residents, consisting of a mostly older population as well as many children, have for a long time desperately needed good quality health services that were available free of charge.

Normally, one in five children die in these villages due to preventable and treatable illnesses, with people in most of these villages unable to afford any health care. Until now, any sick person had to travel eight hours by foot to see a doctor; for many, this was not feasible. As I make this report, I have just learned that an eight-year-old boy, who had a high fever for two days, died on the journey to the health center with his parents. This is a tragedy that happens quite often. 

But there is some good news to report. After completing the building construction, our talks with the government have resulted in their agreement to help with some medication expenses plus one of the full-time staff salaries. Thus today, we have two full-time Health Assistants and one Assistant/Helper, all of whom will be able to provide 24-hour service.

Shanti Rai, one of the center’s full-time Health Assistants and a graduate of The Small World, is from the Phuleli community and has been instrumental in all the arrangements. Her ability to plan, organize, and coordinate has been extraordinary, but what is also important is that she is pleased to be a role model for these village girls who, for many reasons, still struggle to complete their education. For them, an educated and successful girl from their community is a beacon of hope and inspiration as well as proof that their dreams and goals are possible to attain.

“I am very proud to be working back in my community in the health sector,” Shanti said. “For all I am today, I will forever remain thankful to The Small World and my sponsors. These villages still lack very basic health facilities and everyday people die of simple health conditions like diarrhea. I am doing what I can here in the Phuleli community health center. People are economically poor here but they are very thankful for this service. I wish you all could see their wide smiles after receiving service here. Their smiles and gratitude keeps me going each day.”

At this point, the health center is focusing on providing primary health care, but also offers services for children’s nutrition education, pre-natal and post-natal care, and regular health checks for older residents.

However, its establishment provides the opportunity for more comprehensive services, and with our plan to provide ongoing medical care and free medication for years to come, we are also hoping to have the means to treat more health issues, such as those that became apparent after an assessment of the population needs. This study showed the need for the set-up of a basic lab with x-ray and USG; introduction of dental care; maternal care with safe deliveries; child health care; and more specialized prevention of disease. We would love to include these vital services at the center.

If you feel the same, we heartily welcome and would highly appreciate any contribution you can offer so that we may achieve these final goals. We thank you for your consideration!

Namaste from Phuleli Solukhumbhu.

As the world battles the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has become very clear that societies depend on functioning healthcare facilities. The sufficient availability of hospital beds, healthcare staff, protective gear or ventilators can make all the difference between a situation that is still manageable and a severe crisis. 

Here in this remote village of Solukhumbhu still people are forced to walk for hours just to get paracetamol and basic services before this health center was built. We are beyond grateful that our health center is now up and serving this community.

Though this center is just a baby step toward achieving functioning advanced health center in future the community is beyond grateful to have this facility in their own community.

Currently we have 2 paramedics and an assistant serving the community. We plan to add bit by bit to this center so it will be fully equipped community health center. 

Our focus at the moment is providing preventive care and education on most common health issues like Hypertension, asthma and early diagnosis of complicated pregnancies.

We have been serving over 50 people per day including porters who walks on the trail of classical Everest trail. All the services are provided for free of cost. We also have special senior citizen checkup day scheduled every month where they not only get heath checkup but also get chance to meet chat and enjoy their time with each other at our rooftop hall.

This is a great accomplishment and we are forever grateful to everyone who believed and supported for this project.

Thank you