Urgent Appeal for Nepal

Thanks to your generous donation, our partners have been implementing projects aimed at providing long-term sustainable support and change to the communities so adversely affected by the earthquakes in Nepal. The amount of work that is needed to rebuild peoples' lives in Nepal is enormous. Not just the physical rebuilding, but also the rebuilding of communities and the support and healing of the emotional trauma. The Karuna Team recently visited the area and heard from individuals who your funds helped support in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake

One such beneficiary is Shrijana. Shrijana is a member of the Dalit community in Dakshinkali. She is a widow and alongside her son she is an agricultural labourer. An older lady, she has chronic heart problems and took medication for these. Shrijana had been in contact with our project partner for four years prior to the earthquake, through a women's health support group. 

When the earthquake struck, Shrijana was on her farm cultivating maize. Trees around her fell down and there was a loud roar. She immediately thought of her son, working in fields nearby but too far to get to. She ran to her badly damaged house for shelter. As she was running, she tripped and hurt her ankle. Unable to walk or go for help, she was stranded in her own home. She had no way of contacting son to know if he was okay nor let him know she needed help. She did not know how she would be able to get more and her life was in danger.

Our partner in India, arrived in the local area very soon after the earthquake struck. They brought food and medical supplies and were able to refill her medication. They helped get her to the medical center via a stretcher. They also helped contact her son, who was fine. Her foot was taken care of and she was able to heal. Karuna also provided temporary housing for her to use until her house could be re-secured.

Case 1:

Rewati, 25, comes from Thulo Khairatawa VDC in Nawalparasi. Her husband is a farmer. She helps her husband in the field and does household works. Rewati is an active member of Green Tara Nepal’s health promotion groups. She delivered her second baby in newly established birthing center of Green Tara in Thulo Khairatawa VDC.

Rewati shares her second experience of child birth with Green Tara staff like this-“When I was pregnant with my first baby, I did not have knowledge about the importance of antenatal care. Me and family family did not feel it was necessary to go to hospitals for child birth. So I had my first baby delivered at home. Luckily I did not have complications back then. After joining GTN health promotion group, I have realized how important it is to have antenatal and postnatal care as well as delivery in institution with skilled birth attendants. I think I made wise decision to deliver my second baby in the birthing centre. Also, me and my husband are happy to receive the incentives ”.

Rewati’s second baby was healthy with no complications and weighed 3000gms. She also received Rs 400 as an incentive for 4 Antenatal care visits, a bag containing warm clothes for mother and baby as well as Rs 500 as travel expenses to come for institutional delivery.

Case 2:

Anita, 22 is from Somani VDC ward 4. She lives alone with her newly born baby because her husband has recently gone to Malaysia for work. Many men in Nawalparasi district go abroad for labour works leaving their families behind. Anita has just given birth to her second healthy baby in Green Tara’s birthing center in Thulokhairatawa. Her first delivery had happened at home in the absence of skilled birth attendant which could be the major reason why the child died in few hours of birth.

Anita had come into contact with Green Tara Nepal during home visits. In the beginning, she was counseled by GTN staffs about the advantages of delivery in a birthing centre. Her second delivery took place in Green Tara’s birthing center on August 26. Her baby weighed 3000gms. Delivery was normal but later swelling was identified following an internal tear in the mother. So, she was referred to Hyper center(Butwal) for complication management. Now Anita and her baby are back home, safe and healthy. Anita says-“I am glad to have birthing center in my community. Because of which I was able to come for delivery in a health institution. Also the complication could be identified earlier and I was referred. I couldn’t have been able to bear the loss of another baby”.

Anita also received Rs 400 as an incentive for 4 Antenatal care visits, a bag containing warm clothes for mother and baby as well as Rs 500 as travel expenses to come for institutional delivery. She is now one of the members of GTN’s newly formed health promotion groups in Somani VDC, Nawalparasi.

Thank you so much for supporting this essential work. Happy New Year!