Quarterly Newsletter I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Global Health V O L U M E I I I, I S S U E I I M A Y 2 0 1 8 KOSHISH s nursing training programme continues at full speed International Women s Day, 8th March 2018 Unity in Health s appoints its first representative in Nepal Beyond Everest. Women and Children, The Forgotten Conversations Fundraising event on behalf of Unity in Health. Singapore, 6th April 2018 1 KOSHISH s nursing training programme continues at full speed As our joint training programme with KOSHISH Nepal enters its second year, Unity in Health s volunteer nurses continue working alongside local staff for the advancement of nursing mental health care practice. Structural and human resources in Nepal s mental health care system are limited and inadequate to the urgent psychosocial needs of its population. Working under severely depleted environments, nurses are faced with daily challenges difficult to overcome. Through our training programme, local staff are encouraged to identify their needs, as well as to explore best ways to improve their practice environment. The following are examples of some of the interventions led by Angelo Leo, Canadian Volunteer Nurse, from February to May 2018. Nursing Assessment Forms Initial assessments, as well as risk assessments, are essential tools for mental health nurses. Through these, nurses collect information about patients, identify problems & risks, and implement care plans suitable to the needs of those receiving care. Pictures below: UiH Nurse Volunteer Angelo Leo works alongside KOSHISH's nursing staff in the revision of nursing assessment procedures. Kathmandu, March 2018 Community Outreach visit to Ilam, Western Nepal 5 Staff nurse Priti Pun working with other KOSHISH Staff Nurses in the revision of nursing assessment forms. Credit: UiH 1
Wellness Groups Wellness groups look at giving beneficiaries the opportunity to discuss ideas around health and wellbeing. One of such groups started regularly at KOSHISH's Female Transit Home on Tuesday afternoons, with a core group of beneficiaries preparing for discharge. Angelo Leo (UiH) running a Wellness group with UiH Staff. Violence Prevention & Management Training For many mental health care staff, violence and aggression is often one of the most concerning aspects of working in inpatient psychiatric settings. Misconceptions around mental illness as well as poor skills set to respond to violent behaviour often lead to unsafe situations for staff and those receiving care. Throughout April all staff working at KOSHISH inpatient services nurses and healthcare assistants, as well as admin, kitchen and housekeeping staff participated in a comprehensive, interactive workshop on violence prevention and management. At the end of the training session, participants were able to accomplish the following: 1) Recognise behavioural warning signs of violence in individuals; 2) Employ communication and teamwork skills to prevent and manage violence; ) Take steps to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program. Violence Prevention & Management Training, Kathmandu, April 2018. 2
International Women s Day, 8th March 2018 On the 8th of March 2018 we celebrated International Women's Day, and commemorated the movement for women's rights across the globe. According to the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report, gender parity is over 200 years away. Despite this overwhelming figure, across the world women are making positive gains day by day. This year's International Women's Day campaign theme was #PressforProgress. Everyone, women and men, old and young, can commit to this campaign and press for progress for gender parity. How? By adopting positive behaviours, and influence others to press for equality worldwide. Behaviours and attitudes such as: 1) Maintaining a gender parity mindset 2) Challenging stereotypes and bias ) Forging positive visibility of women ) Influencing others' beliefs / actions 5) Celebrating women's achievements As an organisation that supports nurses and healthcare professionals in low and middle income countries - the majority of these being women, Unity in Health fully embraces this campaign. Celebrating women role models and their journeys is central to our work, underpinning what we believe in, and what we fight for. Left: Women s rights graffiti, Kathmandu. Unity in Health s appoints its first representative in Nepal We are pleased to announce that together with our partner organisation Chora Chori, Unity in Health has employed Luvana Shrestha as its first Country Representative in Nepal. Luvana Shrestha (left) talking to Dr Pradip Singh, Nepal Medical College Luvana s background in sociology and international human rights, combined with her experience of working in women s rights and mental health in an international development context maker her a major asset to our organisation. Luvana s role includes supporting and coordinating volunteers whilst on placement in Nepal, monitoring and evaluating ongoing in-country programmes, and building partnerships with other local mental health related organisations. Luvana s appointment is an important step in our development as an organisation. We would not have achieved it without the support of our partner ChoraChori, to which we are very grateful.
Beyond Everest. Women and Children, The Forgotten Beyond the grandeur of Nepal s mountainous peaks is a dark and troubling industry one that subjects women and children to abuse and exploitation. What can be done to ameliorate their vulnerability? How can they receive better can in rehabilitation? When will female health professionals be empowered to shape the medical system? Electronic poster at 1880. Credit: UiH One the th of April 2018, Unity in Health was once again invited to the 1880 Club in Singapore, this time to talk to some of its members about the plight of Nepal s most marginalised women and children. Gayathri Santi-McBain ( Unity in Health s Trustee) and João Marçal-Grilo (Unity in Health s Co-Founding Director) spoke to an engaging crowd about Unity in Health s experience of working in mental health care in Nepal. Topics covered included poverty, the cast system and its impact on those most vulnerable, challenges experienced by Nepalese health staff whilst bringing care to Nepal s poorest communities, and efforts to improve standards of emotional & mental health care across the country. Our team looks forward to returning to Singapore, share our stories of working in South Asia, and exchange ideas on how best to move forward in our mission of improving standards of psychosocial care in the region. Conversations. Fundraising event on behalf of Unity in Health. Singapore, 6th April 2018 Unity in Health is immensely grateful to Singaporebased artists Eugenia Gajardo and Andy Yang, who devoted an evening of their ongoing exhibition Conversations to Unity in Health wooing us all with their talent, warmth and intellect. Your gesture and generosity has touched us all, and we look forward to seeing you soon, in Singapore, in Nepal or in any other part of the world. Thank you for your interest in our cause, and for all your support. Below, from left to right: João Marçal-Grilo (UiH), Eugenia Gajardo, Andy Yang and Gayathri Santhi- McBain (UiH).
Community Outreach visit to Ilam, Western Nepal Rural communities in Nepal have limited or in most cases no access to mental health services. Far away from urban areas, people affected by psychiatric and emotional problems have no health professionals to turn to, no medication, and no structured psychological help. For three days, Unity in Health accompanied staff from Aashadeep and the Nepal Medical College on a trip to Ilam, Eastern Nepal, a region with one of the highest rates of suicide in the country. With the support of Aashadeep s dedicated staff, Dr Pradip Singh saw dozens of patients affected by a wide range of conditions. Both patients and their relatives were heard, offered support, free medication, and guidance on how to best manage their problems. A marathon to see as many people as possible in a very short space of time. As part of our community-based support strategy in Nepal, over the next three years Unity in Health will support the delivery of this as well as two other mobile clinics in the mountainous areas of Nepal. We will provide financial and human resources to our partners, and ensure that those most isolated have access to basic, essential psychosocial care. Top pic: Ilam landscape. Bottom pic: Rajani Bhandari (centre, in yellow) from Aashaddep, Dr Pradip Singh (NMC) and the outreach team. London Office: Unity in Health (UiH) Top Floor 15 Arundel Square London N7 8AT, UK Phone: 00 78 275 7 E-mail: info@unityinhealth.org Web: unityinhealth.org Charity number: 1159008 Nepal Office: Unity in Health Nepal (UiH) C/O Chora Chori Nepal Bhanimandal- Lalitpur, NEPAL Phone: +977 9880299999 E-mail: luvana@unityinhealth.org UiH is a Charitable Incorporate Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission (England & Wales). We are committed to improving the number and quality of health services in regions where these are insufficient or non-existent. To find out more on how you can help us to support those at the front line of health care services in low and middle income countries, please visit our web page on unityinhealth.org or write to us on info@unityinhealth.org We look forward to hearing from you! UiH Team 5