Project Report
| Jun 13, 2016
A girl's event
![3 days for girls - 'Nicker' kits]()
3 days for girls - 'Nicker' kits
Global Giving Report #12 - 6/13/2016
We have just passed the one year mark of the earthquakes that devastated large parts of Nepal and, in particular, the Sindhupalchok and Kavre areas of the country. Entire communities were wiped out, thousands lost their homes, their livelihoods and their schools. Our Rajbash Community Hospital sustained considerable damage to its second floor and its staff quarters. We felt helpless just witnessing what happened from our comforts here in the US, but the resilient Nepalis rallied as much as they were able and have made remarkable progress in rebuilding their communities (despite the lack of adequate assistance from the government and a paralyzing embargo of goods from India). Much, of course, remains to be done, but the courage and industry of the Nepalis in the face of terrible odds have garnered our respect and admiration.
The damaged hospital and staff quarters were repaired with generous donations from US supporters. New and stiffer building requirements have made the buildings safer (and visibly cleaner) than before. Our staff was very relieved to move back into the hospital premises after months of functioning in provisional quarters.
Our English DCWC partners visited Rajbash in May for some more strategic planning with the hospital staff and the DCWC staff. It has been challenging to align Nepali record keeping practices with Western bookkeeping requirements. This was not the first of such meetings. However, we feel that steady progress is being made toward more accuracy and transparency in financial record keeping.
The highlight of our English friends’ visit was a previously planned, three day ‘Girls Event’. In remote areas of the country there is often a great lack of sanitary napkins for young menstruating girls to the point were many girls just won’t go to school during ‘that time’. To remedy this, our friends brought a large supply of ‘nickers’ and washable sanitary towels and held educational meetings at schools for girls. As you can see from the pictures, their gift was greeted with enthusiasm and, also a little embarrassment.
Rajbash has a new Outreach/Educational provider named Ungela. Ungela comes with a degree in Community Health and replaces the beloved Minn Prasad who used to be such a vital part of the Educational and Outreach programs of the hospital. Minn was lured away by a permanent government job and and his example shows the difficulty of keeping good employees long term. We hope that Ungela will become an integral part of Rajbash Hospital and carry on the important outreach work that is such an important aspect of bringing basic medical care into remote areas.
In time the outreach coordinator would also be a liaison for a Rajbash medical outpost in a more remote region that would be staffed by a trained nurse and provide basic medical services. This has been one of the long held visions of the hospital’s founders and discussions are underway right now to make this vision a reality in the near future.
In closing we want to share one more bit of wonderful news with you: The US organization ‘Medshare’, collectors and distributors of surplus medical supplies and equipment, donated an entire ship’s container of supplies to our hospital. They even volunteered to pay the air freight for transport to Nepal. For seven months the DCWC staff negotiated with the government to obtain tax free entry until, finally, the supplies arrived in April and were transported to Rajbash The hospital, in turn, shared some of the bounty with other hospitals in need. We can not overstate our gratitude for this generous gift that will ease our hospital operation for quite a while to come.
DCWC supporters in the UK and in the US are planning the following treks in support of the Rajbash Hospital:
Nov. 4 - 20, 2016 - 15 days touring Nepal
This will be a tour of sacred places in Nepal that are destinations of Buddhist pilgrimages. Transportation will be by bus and four wheel drive plus some short day hikes. For more information or to sign up for this trip contact stevegross@earthlink.net.
April 8 - 28, 2017 - Two week trek to Annapurna Sanctuary (Base Camp), to include cultural exploration of Kathmandu. Details being finalized. For more information contact petersjc104@gmail.com
BOTH tour and trek to include visit to Rajbash Hospital and a DCWC school.
We continue to be grateful to all of you who support our ongoing efforts for the people of Nepal. Blessings to you.
![Snickers about 'Nickers']()
Snickers about 'Nickers'
![Strategy session at Rajbash Hospital]()
Strategy session at Rajbash Hospital
![Rajbash Hospital staff with village children]()
Rajbash Hospital staff with village children
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