Lifesaving healthcare for remote farming villages

As previously reported, our small rural Hospital in Rajbash continues to treat a steady patient load of 300 to 350 individuals per month. We are providing basic medical care that includes diagnostics and treatment, peri-natal services, maternal & child services, non-complicated surgeries, pharmacy services. However this number increases substantially if we take into account outreach to the villages by the midwives and nurses.

The month of April has been particularly productive because we held two of our always well attended free clinics: one for  Dermatology and another for VIA (Visual Inspection of Acetic Acid) and general Gynecology.

The Dermatology Clinic was set up and fully staffed by our hospital. We examined and treated 271 patients who came with a host of different ailments. One very large problem is a skin rash caused by scabies, a communicable disease that, if infected and left untreated can lead to more serious problems down the road. Disinfectants and medical ointments are not found in most poor households and necessitate a visit to the hospital and pharmacy.

The VIA & Gynecology Clinic was set up by the Health Unit of the Village Municipal Administration of Rajbash with government doctors while our hospital staff provided logistical and medical support for 100 women who took advantage of this free service which included regular gynecological exams and consultations as well as testing  for various cancers through VIA.

While the Clinics were held, an inauguration celebration for our new ambulance, donated by our sister organization in Oakland, California, was held.  Up to 450 appreciative villagers, patients and staff attended and celebrated this important event. The new ambulance will now transport patients in need of more serious hospital care to Kathmandu, while the old ambulance, after years of service on terrible roads less reliable, will be used for local patient pick-up around closer to the hospital. 

Links:

• http://dcwcnepal.org.np