medical services

Posted on November 25, 2013
by Volunteering Nepal

The sub health post with limited facilities and insufficient medical supplies is the only health institute providing medical services to rural people. Paramedical personnel (Community Medicine Assistant) are the main staff in charge of the health post. A maternal and child health worker (MCH) and a community health worker (CHW) are other staffs who support the clinic. Female community health volunteers (FCHVs) support in health service delivery to the community as it is needed. All these people are trained in basic health, at basic health courses. These people (staffs and volunteers) are able to provide just the most basic health services. There is no doubt this centre is not sufficient for the fulfilment of the community’s health needs. In spite of the insufficient resources it has an important role in the healthcare system of Nepal. Despite the health post being insufficient, rural people are benefitted from this centre to get basic healthcare. Otherwise people have to travel a long distance to get appropriate treatment, or to get a medical doctor consultation. It is inevitable that the health centre could play a vital role in the community health development, if it had qualified human resources with sufficient logistic supplies.

VIN- Volunteers Initiative Nepal has been working in rural Nepal through Integrated Community Health Project (ICHP) for community health development and strengthening the health system since 2010. It is designed to improve sustainable basic health conditions of community people. It has five sub projects: support to health centre; awareness on health, hygiene and sanitation; waste management; and school health programme.

VIN is providing regular support to the health centre at the community. VIN supports by having qualified human resources (educated staff), giving materials & medicine supply, upgrading facilities and making publicity around the health post. VIN has managed a regular doctor duty along with qualified international volunteers and a local nursing staff. The building is modified to different chambers, for a variety of services. It is supplied with dressing materials, gloves, dressing instruments, BP instruments and many more. In partnership with VDC- village development committee, pathology lab has been installed. Now, the health centre is providing pathology lab services too. The medical team from VIN has developed a health management information system and contributed to maintaining the well documented information system of the centre. VIN has been good at networking at the community, and has publicized the facilities provided by the health centre.

In the period of 3 years 8098 people have been benefited from the VIN supported clinic. International volunteers have contributed a lot in order to get the medical supplies. Recently, Bente a Danish volunteer have managed to have 1, 60,000 NRs. donated by the Danish Red Cross to get medical supplies. Also other volunteers are supporting the poor people to get treatment and operation. Tom and Nicole, Dutch volunteers supported with around 1, 40,000 NRs. In order to get a little child with ectopic bladder operated for the damaging condition. As the clinic has expanded its services and facilities, recently government has upgraded the health post and has added staff and supplies.

It has brought significant changes in the physical infrastructure and services at the health centre. People are aware of getting medical treatment rather than visiting a traditional healer. There have been an increased number of people visiting the clinic from neighbouring villages. This clinic has proved to be the most popular clinic in the region. Also the benefitted people are happy for the services provided by the clinic. It is proved by this statement from one of the visitors at the clinic: “I am impressed by the services from clinic. All staffs are polite and friendly. I could get my blood test here. I would like to thank Dr. Laxmi and VIN” Radhika Gajurel, Tinppiple

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Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN)

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Paper Wings

04:47 11 Apr 24

Monique Daulton

08:07 02 Apr 24

Just had the most incredible 2 weeks volunteering with VIN in Okhaldunga. I worked with the women empowerment - life skills programme teaching the women about self confidence & self esteem. I feel very humbled & enriched by all the incredible women I met & the VIN staff & organisation who give so much to empower marginalised communities in Nepal

Sandy Storey

12:02 25 Mar 24

Namaste! I am pleased to have volunteered with VIN in Nepal as a teacher trainer. I carried out general teacher training in Okhaldhunga with teachers from nearby areas as well as more specific English language training for one month in both Nishanke and Bhaudare. VIN staff provided me with support before, during and after. I also made new friends with volunteers from all over the world. VIN seeks to empower marginalized communities in a holistic fashion. It is a noble cause, and I am happy to have made a contribution. Dhanyabad :)

Cherine wong

13:33 19 Mar 24

I undertook a management and administrative internship at VIN in their head office. It was eye inspiring, eye opening and enriching - it's the people who make an organisation so special, and Buphi and the team are the heart of it.

I very much enjoyed my time at VIN, the work I got to do, learning more about this not for profit and the incredibly profound sustainable projects and programs they run. They're a beacon of light for Nepal and I'm glad I got to make a small contribution to their work.

Suvi-Tuuli Vehviläinen

11:28 01 Mar 24

I’m Suvi, I’m 26 years old and I’m from Finland.

I was doing the Youth Empowerment; Youth Club and Life Skills project here at VIN in Okhaldhunga.

We formed 3 new Youth Clubs in the area, Taluwa, Thulaccap and Bhadaure. We trained the Board Members of these youth clubs and gave them skills to manage the Clubs by themselves, for examples how to manage budgeting and how to arrange meetings and events for the youth.

I think the youth clubs really do make a difference in the area, because they give a voice to young people and give them possibilities to influence and change the communities here in Nepal.

In addition to forming and training the Youth Clubs, we also did general Youth training, which included learning Life skills such as creative thinking, building self-confidence, goal setting, computer class and learning English through fun games and conversations.

I learned a lot from this experience. I learned about a new culture and a new way of life. People here are extremely friendly and warm-hearted and young people are so eager to learn new skills. I learned a lot about the youth club formation also, because it was new to me - I mean different than in my country. I look forward to hearing from the Youth Clubs in the future.

The most memorable thing of my experience was giving support to young people and getting the smiles and laughs from them when they completed the tasks or did very well when talking in English. I really had the best time telling them “Good job, well done!”

The youth empowerment project in total made me really understand the phrase “youth are the future”. It really hit me that they actually are the generation that will decide how things will go from now on and they are the ones who can have an impact on their community and later on the whole country. That made me feel I’m doing an important job with every single supportive feedback I’m giving.

I had the best team, I love how everybody was supporting me through my whole journey. And everyone was so chill. I was having a hard time at some point doubting whether I’m doing a good job, afraid that I’m not giving a good performance, that should I be able to do more, but with support I came to conclusion that it is the little things that matter. Just meeting the youth and chatting with them is a lot, it doesn’t have to be a circus.

I would definitely recommend this project to other people, for the same reasons I mentioned earlier. It is a great opportunity to build a future together with the local youth, hear what ideas they have and make things happen. The project is a great way to practice English also. My English is not perfect and neither is theirs or most of the volunteers here, so it’s a good chance to learn together.

In total I’ve enjoyed my stay here very much. I actually ended up extending my stay a little, cause I just couldn’t leave. I’m very grateful for my experience and the work I got to do, to make a change here in Nepal.

Pramila Maharjan

06:44 24 Dec 23

My experience at VIN was amazing.I choose VIN for different role within community. I had very good time in Jitpur fedi.We made the beautiful connection with community people's. I love to work together within the international volunteers and local volunteers. Thank you for giving me this great opportunity to deed into the community.

PRAJWOL POUDEL

14:35 20 Dec 23

Volunteering with VIN has given me lots of new experiences and memories. Working with international volunteers, community people, and VIN staff was wonderful. I did meet some amazing people and made new friends and this volunteering has made me feel like I can make a change to the community of Nepal. I do wish to join back with VIN at some point again..:)

justine Squire

05:09 11 Dec 23

I’ve had an amazing experience with VIN. From the first emails to prepare to commit to this program, my arrival and induction, the support and check -ins during the volunteering and of course the exit and farewell, all of which I received excellent support and communication.

VIN is a wonderful NGO organisation which has been in existence for 18 years and was founded by a local person who grew up in an isolated village in the far east of Nepal, hence, he is really in touch with the needs of his people.

I was involved in the Women’s Empowerment Program.

I developed a presentation for women in small villages. With a beautiful local girl (my translator), I trekked 20mins - 2 hrs to various villages. We taught leadership and self -care through the use of posters, music, dancing and games.

I was also asked to run a more in-depth program with women that were leaders in their communities. We spent 2 days with these women, working on communication, public speaking skills, roles of committee members and meeting protocols. The women in this program noticeably improved in their confidence over the 2 days!

As well as being able to contribute to Women and their empowerment, I was enriched personally through being involved in the rich culture of the Nepali people. The other volunteers and I were welcomed into Tihar celebrations - an experience we will never forget.

I highly recommend being involved in this program.

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