Nepal: Orphanage Support
Improving Health and Well-Being of Orphans in Nepal: November 2015 – January 2016
February 23, 2016
Summary of Activities
RMF is supporting Nepal Children’s Organization (NCO) to improve the current conditions of the children at their orphanages, particularly to improve the health, nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene status of the children.
The 25th April earthquake in Nepal caused significant damage and destruction to buildings and infrastructure, one of which was the 83-year-old building of Nepal Children’s Organization (NCO), rendering children in the orphanage homeless once again.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Children Served
Daily Care Performed
Nurses at the orphanages have been maintaining and improving health conditions for the children by daily dressing wounds, performing eye and ear care, and providing appropriate medications.
Health Education
Fighting Colds
The children are fighting colds due to the colder weather, so nurses have been providing health education and teaching how to combat this virus with home remedies such as ginger, turmeric powder, and warm salt water. They are also teaching them how to dress appropriately to keep from getting sick.
Safe Housing
Immediate Needs Being Met
RMF is constructing three pre-fabricated, earthquake resistant houses within the premise of Balmandir to help meet crucial housing needs for children in this area. Currently, approval is being obtained from the government offices to begin building.
Medical Services
Improving Health
Our doctors have been able to administer testing to children in need, including Vitamin D tests and partnering with a local hospital to test for a fungal infection and administer needed medication.
Background
& Objectives
Background
Established in 1964, Nepal Children’s Organization (NCO), also known as Balmandir (The Children’s Temple) is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in Nepal working for the protection and promotion of childrens’ rights and providing residential care to the children at risk. This includes orphans, differently-abled, abandoned and conflict affected children.
After the devastating earthquake on April 25th, followed by another strong earthquake on May 12th, an estimated 2,023 children have been confirmed dead. Likewise, the number of the injured children has been established at 876 and approximately, 200 children have lost their mothers and 112 have lost their fathers. Nearly 2 million children are said to have been affected by this mega quake and the powerful aftershocks thereafter. (Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, June 2015)
Among those children who lost their parents, many have come under the tutelage of NCO, whose own shelter home was heavily destroyed by the disaster. Currently, through their 10 children’s homes within and outside Kathmandu valley, NCO has been caring for 280 children, including the earthquake-affected.
RMF will be supporting NCO in improving orphanage-based children’s health by providing better quality primary health care, including nutrition, sanitation and hygiene.
Objectives
- Provide psychosocial counseling to deeply affected children
- Construct a room for infants
- Health and sanitation trainings for house mothers and children
- Construct a room for differently-abled children
- Provide better quality primary healthcare
- Provide qualified staff nurses at NCO’s centers
- Enhance knowledge and awareness of health and nutrition
Success
Stories
Gambir Balak
An MRI of the brain was done for Gambir, as he didn’t show the proper body movements as per the his age. The MRI report was normal. However, the doctor recommended daily physiotherapy. Therefore, we are providing daily physiotherapy for Gambir according to the doctor’s instructions.
Ankit Balak
Ankit has a cleft palate and an anorectal malformation. He was checked in at the B & B Hospital in Kathmandu, and the doctor suggested carrying out his operation after his weight reached 10 kg. Currently his weight is only 4 kg (he is malnourished and we’ve been working for the last 3 months to improve his health condition and nutritional status). So his operation has been postponed until his weight reaches 10 kg. We have been able to work with the Nutrition Center to help improve his weight and they suggested us to provide him a BelVita and nutrition diet with his meals.