Nepal: Model Village
Patient Numbers Increasing and New Staff Member Hired: February 1 – July 31, 2016
September 11, 2016
Suman Gurung
Summary of Activities
Since January 2016, the RMF Health Clinic in Arupokhari has been accessible to patients 7 days a week and almost 24 hours a day. Our staff has living quarters very close to the clinic and has never denied medical attention to patients, no matter how late or early they arrive. The clinic is accessible to more than 8,000 people living in Arupokhari and nearby villages such as Tandrang, Chanaute, and Deurali.
The team in Arupokhari also provides mobile health services, visiting patients in their homes if they are not able to come to the clinic. Additionally, the team in Arupokhari is now equipped to handle even complicated cases including dental problems, and very few cases are now referred to the district hospital. The people of Arupokhari have never had immediate access to a health facility like this before.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Number of Patients
Growing Rapidly
The RMF Health Clinic in Arupokhari has received an overwhelming response from the community since it began in January 2016. Because it is a well-stocked, fully equipped clinic with professional, experienced heath officers and a commitment to the overall wellbeing of the community, the RMF Health Clinic is very successful and well-respected. The number of patients has been growing rapidly since January 2016.
New Staff Recruited
Ms. Binita Sapkota
Since joining RMF Nepal in March 2016, Ms. Binita has been an invaluable addition to our medical team in undertaking daily clinical work, which includes attending to patients, distributing medicine, handling emergency cases, visiting patients at their houses, and accompanying patients to the district hospital when necessary.
Well-Equipped & Well-Stocked
Preparing for Monsoon Season
RMF Nepal’s team from Kathmandu visited our Arupokhari clinic during the first week of June 2016, bringing more than 110 different types of drugs, a fully operational dental equipment set, a refrigerator, sanitary pads, a stethoscope, a BP set, needles (3 and 5 ml), bandages (crepe and gauze), cotton rolls, and IV sets at the request of the health officer in Arupokhari.
Background
& Objectives
Background
In line with RMF’s concepts and the government of Nepal’s vision for a comprehensive and eventually sustainable Model Village, RMF, in close partnership and collaboration with Sarswati Foundation will be working towards the development of a Model Village in Arupokhari. Sarswati Foundation has been working in Arupokhari, Gorkha since 2009 as a non-profit. This was co-founded by Subhash Ghimire, a native from that village and editor-in-chief of the Republica, Nepal’s leading English daily that publishes with the New York Times in Kathmandu.
Following the devastating earthquake, the non-profit has been actively engaged in relief and reconstruction works in the area, which includes providing food and temporary shelter relief to the affected people. So far, the foundation has delivered 7.5 tons (100 sacks of 30 kg rice, 50 sacks of 50 kg lentils, 500 sacks of 0.5 L of oil, 500 packets of 1 kg salt, 495 blankets, 350 tents) to the community, and aims to rebuild the village as a replicable model, which will include earthquake-safe structures designed by architects and engineers, utilizing local natural and human resources to ensure ownership and sustainability, improved healthcare access, education and livelihood programs, based on the needs of the communities and with the leadership of the local people.
Similarly, the village also holds a huge potential as a thriving Manaslu trekking route, along with a 600-megawatt hydro project being planned around in the area. In addition, the community is also actively engaged in production of local agricultural products and livestock. With a thought-out detailed plan, the opportunities of the village could be tapped in to create a replicable, integrated and sustainable Model Village.
RMF supports the rebuilding of Sarswati Peace School (more than 200 students, mostly from economically and culturally marginalized backgrounds) and Darbar Higher Secondary School (public school with more than 400 students), both of which were badly damaged during the earthquake. The current plan is to demolish the existing damaged structure and construct earthquake resistant buildings.
Along with the support to the reconstruction of the schools, the model village project also seeks to help build at least 100 temporary shelters and 700 permanent houses to the identified most vulnerable households in the community and one earthquake resistant local health center. Health services, education, and the economy will be supported for the long-term as the people of Arupokhari build a stronger future in collaboration with RMF and Sarswati.
Objectives
- Rebuild the village as a replicable model, which will include earthquake-safe structures designed by architects and engineers
- Use local natural and human resources to ensure ownership and sustainability
- Improve healthcare access and education based on the needs of the communities and with the leadership of the local people
More
Photos
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Success
Stories
Ujeli Sharma
Mrs. Ujeli Sharma is a 60-year-old woman who suddenly fainted after a severe headache. She was treated in the RMF Health Clinic on May 12, 2016. The patient has a history of untreated hypertension.
A single dose of anti-hypertensive drugs (amlodipine 10 mg and losartan 50 mg) was given to Mrs. Sharma, and she was immediately referred to the tertiary health facility for further treatment.
Juneli Baram
Ms. Juneli Baram is a 56-year-old woman who suddenly fainted and lost consciousness for a long time. Before losing consciousness, she had lost control of her limbs and had a severe headache. She was brought to the RMF Health Clinic in a semiconscious condition on June 2, 2016.
Examination revealed that Ms. Baram had high blood pressure and needed to be taken to the district hospital immediately. The RMF team had a vehicle on standby and left with Ms. Baram immediately (the hospital is a 5-hour drive from Arupokhari). Today, Ms. Baram has fully recovered and returned to the village.
