Nepal: Kanti Childrens Hospital

Community Relief and Support to Needy Patients: November 2015 – January 2016

March 17, 2016

Nepal Initiative Reports

Blood Drive

Partnering with Kanti Children’s Hospital and SAV

Support To Needy Patients

Kanti Children’s Hospital is the only government referral level children’s hospital of Nepal. The hospital was established in 1963 as a general hospital with 50 beds, and today has a capacity of 320 beds. The hospital treats children up to the age of 14 from all over the country, a total target population of 13-14 million children.

RMF is supporting Social Action Volunteers (SAV), a non-governmental organization established in 1988, to serve the neediest patients of Kanti Children’s Hospital and their families. SAV provides 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 medicines, blood, investigation, transportation and food supplements for patients and their companions, shelter for family members, cooking facilities for families or complete coverage of both patient and family members.

Progress Made:

Provided free medicines, supplements, medical tests, lodging, food and other hospital requirements for selected poor and needy patients of Kanti Children’s Hospital and their families who have been referred to them by the admitting physician at the hospital, after an initial economic assessment of the patient.
Provided guidance to the parents of sick children regarding proper use of hospital facilities, health education, sanitation, pharmacy and others.
Helped patients get access to available facilities of the hospital like X-rays and lab tests.
Provided financial support and other arrangements such as transportation for patients who require services outside the hospital such as MRI and CT scans.
Organized blood donation program and maintained blood bank withdrawing units of blood as required to the patients.
Managed kitchen at the hospital where patients and families from paying and non-paying wards can use them free of cost.
Managed a playroom and library at the hospital for patients and their siblings.
Managed a clothes bank for needy patients and their families.
Provided nutrition support to children admitted at the Oncology and Malnourished Ward at the hospital.
Managed and mobilized the volunteers of SAV and Kanti Children’s Hospital, giving them an opportunity to assist patients and their families, conduct health oriented programs such as health camps, workshops or seminars, and organize fundraisers.

Supplies Distribution

Distribution of Relief Packages to Earthquake Victims

Sindhupalchowk

Sindhupalchowk is one of the worst earthquake affected districts with highest casualty rates and deaths due to the disaster. Nepal is still reeling under the crisis since 25 April, 2015 after it was hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake and several aftershocks, and the situation is worsened by the blockade for the last 5 months, leading to critical shortages of fuel, supplies and medicines. More recently, earthquake affected people started dying due to cold related illnesses after spending nights outside in their temporary tents. Providing warm clothes and necessary supplies has become more urgent than ever.

On 10th January, SAV in collaboration with RMF organized a trip to Sindhupalchowk’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 the cold in this winter. The program was organized by SAV (RMF is providing regular support in their activities and programs).

Relief Package:

Shawls for women
Shirts, pants, sweaters and jackets (for men and women)
Baby suits (for boy and girls)
Blankets

The RMF team along with SAV carried out the visit for distribution of the relief packages. The program was attended by Member of Parliament, Mr. Sher Bahadur Tamang, doctors and SAV volunteers.

Donate

Provide necessary medical supplies, blood, and nutritional support for patients. Also providing access and transportation to testing and procedures
Give instruction of patients needs, education, amenities during hospital stay, and financial support to family of the patient
Management to various hospital programs such as a blood drive program, a free-of-cost kitchen for patients and families, playroom and library for patients and siblings, and clothes bank for needy patients and family

Kanti Children’s Hospital is the only government referral level Children’s Hospital of Nepal. The hospital was established in 1963 as a general hospital with 50 beds, which today have a capacity of 320 beds. The hospital treats children up to the age of 14 from all over the country, a total target population of 13-14 million children. Following the earthquake, where parts of hospital building were damaged, there is in general a need for equipment and capacity building for better health service delivery.