Date: January 8, 2018 Prepared by: Ganesh Shrestha and Deanna Boulard Kanti Children s Hospital, Nepal Organization: Real Medicine Foundation Nepal (www.realmedicinefoundation.org) Project title: Kanti Children s Hospital Project location: Kathmandu, Nepal January 2018 Real Medicine Foundation 11700 National Blvd., Suite 234 Los Angeles, CA 90064 +1.310.820.4502 RMF Nepal Program Manager Ganesh Shrestha (right) receiving a certificate of appreciation for RMF s support to Kanti Children s Hospital 1
Background Kanti Children s Hospital is the only government referral level children s hospital in Nepal and provides medical care to children up to age 14. The targeted number of children to be served directly and indirectly by the hospital is approximately 10,068,900 each year (34.9% of total population, Nepal Population Report, 2016). The administration of the hospital is overseen by Kanti Children s Hospital Development Board, which is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health. The hospital is heavily dependent on the government for financial support and human resources. Thus, although Kanti Children s Hospital provides free health services to financially challenged patients, there are always constraints with regard to the availability of funds, which makes it challenging to provide medical support to every child that is referred to the hospital. RMF s Presence Shortly after the April 2015 earthquake, Real Medicine Foundation (RMF) started its support of Kanti Children s Hospital by donating more than $400,000 worth of medicines, medical supplies, and laboratory supplies. RMF continues to support a blood bank, lodging, food, transportation, medicines, laboratory services, and other necessities for needy patients and their families. In March 2017, RMF also began supporting human resources at Kanti Children s Hospital, and is now providing the hospital with 3 medical officers and 4 registered nurses. RMF Provides New Hospital Beds In addition to our ongoing support of human resources at Kanti Children s Hospital, RMF is working to strategically provide the hospital with needed medical equipment. In answer to the hospital s request for ICU beds for the CICU (Central Intensive Care Unit), RMF responded on January 1, 2018 by handing over 10 ICU beds to the hospital. The hospital administration organized a special ceremony for the occasion, and RMF Program Manager Ganesh Shrestha officially handed over the beds to Chairman Subodh Raj Acharya of the Kanti Children s Hospital Development Board. Distinguished guests and attendees at the ceremony included various directors, department heads, chief consultants, and employees of the hospital; members of the Kanti Children s Hospital Development board; RMF Nepal leadership and RMF doctors and nurses based in Kathmandu; staff from the Nepal Children s Organization; and journalists covering the event. Participants and their roles during the ceremony: Master of Ceremonies: Mrs. Bishnu Banjade, Sister-in-charge of SICU, Kanti Children s Hospital Chair: Mr. Subodh Raj Acharya, Chairman, Kanti Children s Hospital Development Board Welcoming remarks: Mrs. Nibaran Joshi, Nursing Director, Kanti Children s Hospital Speech: Dr. Ajit Rayamajhi, Immediate Past Director, Kanti Children s Hospital Speech: Mr. Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, Program Manager, RMF Nepal Speech: Mr. Bal Krishna Dangol, Director, Nepal Children s Organization Speech: Dr. Ganesh Kumar Rai, Director, Kanti Children s Hospital Speech: Mr. Subodh Raj Acharya, Chairman, Kanti Children s Hospital Development Board Key remarks: Ms. Nibaran Joshi, Nursing Director, Kanti Children s Hospital: Thanks, RMF for supporting Kanti Children s Hospital with medical goods, human resources, and ICU beds. Hope the support will be continued in future too. 2
Dr. Ajit Rayamajhi, Immediate Past Director, Kanti Children s Hospital: RMF had supported KCH with a lot of medicines and medical equipment during the megaquake of 2015. RMF was enthusiastic to support Kanti Hospital. Then we had a board meeting and decided that we should ask for support regarding ICU beds, a cardiac catheterization lab, and some human resources. After this, RMF committed to help us with the human resources immediately, and they supported us with the remuneration for the medical officers that have been working as volunteers in the ICU. The support is continuing to date, and we are very happy to receive the ICU beds too. I found RMF a trustworthy partner. Mr. Bal Krishna Dangol, Director, Nepal Children s Organization: I would like to congratulate Kanti Children s Hospital for receiving such invaluable support. RMF has been partnering with NCO for 2 years, and we are happy with this partnership. RMF has supported 3 residential nurses for NCO, who take care of the children 24 hours and 7 days of the week. The nurses take the sick children to the hospital and make follow-ups for them. Also, RMF is supporting the treatment of sick children. I would like to thank RMF, Dr. Martina, and her Nepal team. Dr. Ganesh Kumar Rai, Director, Kanti Children s Hospital: I am very elated and very grateful for the enormous support of RMF. I am thankful for the support of the human resources, and lastly the ICU beds, which were worth more than 1.5 million [NPR]. The support of RMF is highly valued, because it is such a support that the hospital administration would take years to do by itself. Currently, RMF is supporting 3 medical officers and 4 nurses to our ICU and Emergency departments. They are skilled and doing well. Thanks, Founder and CEO Dr. Martina C. Fuchs and RMF Nepal team for all the support to Kanti Hospital with special emphasis. I expect the support of RMF will be broadened and continue for a long time. Director of Kanti Children s Hospital RMF Nepal Program Manager 3
Mr. Ganesh Shrestha, Program Manager, RMF Nepal We are grateful to be partnering with such a renowned, and the largest, referral level government children s hospital of Nepal. Real Medicine Foundation (RMF) is a non-profit public charity which provides humanitarian support to people living in disaster and poverty-stricken areas, focusing on the person as a whole by providing medical/physical, emotional, economic, and social support. Currently, it has more than 60 initiatives in 24 countries of the world. The RMF was established in May 2005, by Dr. Martina C. Fuchs. After the devastating earthquake of April, 2015, RMF came to Nepal with medical and humanitarian support. Thousands of people from Sindhupalchok, Gorkha, Kavre, Kathmandu, and other earthquake affected districts were served by RMF. At the same time, RMF provided medicines and medical goods to Kanti Children s Hospital. Currently, RMF Nepal has provided 7 medical persons, including 3 medical officers and 4 nurses to Kanti Hospital. Medical officers are serving at the ICU and Emergency department, whereas the nurses are serving at the triage and medical ward. Recently, RMF handed over 10 ICU beds to the Kanti Hospital. In addition to the Kanti Hospital, RMF is partnering with National Academy of Medical Sciences, Lumbini Girls School, Nepal Children s Organization, and UMN Hospital in Palpa for midwifery education, girls education, orphanage support, MCH, primary health, and community outreach services. Being a pediatrician, Dr. Martina C. Fuchs, the founder and CEO of RMF, has special attachment to children and the children s hospital. As a representative of RMF and Dr. Martina, I would like to commit to continue the support. Hope we will get an opportunity to welcome Dr. Martina and have meeting with her in Nepal soon. Mr. Subodh Raj Acharya, Chairman, Kanti Children s Hospital Development Board: A very big thanks to RMF, Dr. Martina, and the Nepal team for the support provided to Kanti Hospital. I respect the social work and support of RMF in Nepal and worldwide. The hospital development board had decided from its 285 th meeting dated on 26 th March 2017, to ask RMF for some human resources and medical goods, including 17 ICU beds. Responding very positively to our request, RMF is supporting 3 medical officers and 4 nurses at our hospital. All the staff supported by RMF are doing well and have been found very responsible. We will be awaiting the meeting with Dr. Martina during her Nepal visit. All the best RMF. 4
Official handover of 10 ICU beds to Kandi Children s Hospital At the event: RMF Nepal Program Manager (center) and Grant and Finance Manager (far right) with the three medical doctors and three of the nurses supported by RMF at Kanti Children s Hospital 5
RMF-provided ICU beds installed and already in use at Kanti Children s Hospital Patients being treated in RMF-provided ICU beds Media coverage: The ceremony celebrating the official handover of 10 ICU beds from RMF to Kanti Children s Hospital was covered by the largest government print newspaper, Gorkhapatra, a national daily newspaper, in its issue of January 4, 2018. 6
Unofficial translation: ICU Beds Handed Over Kathmandu, 4 th January Real Medicine Foundation (RMF) Nepal handed over 10 ICU beds to Kanti Children s Hospital. RMF Nepal provided the beds to enhance the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. RMF Program Manager Ganesh Kumar Shrestha handed over the beds to the chairperson of hospital development board, Mr. Subodh Raj Acharya, amidst a special function organized in the hospital. The assistance includes the ICU beds worth about 1.5 million rupees. Addressing the function, medical director of the hospital Dr. Ganesh Rai said the assistance would help to extend the hospital s ICU service. The hospital has planned to upgrade its ICU by extending its current 34-bed capacity to 52. At request of the hospital, the RMF has been providing 3 medical officers in the ICU and 4 nursing staff members to work at the triage department of the hospital. Original article: Gorkhapatra article, January 4, 2018 7
RMF Honored during Hospital s 56 th Anniversary Ceremony On January 6, 2018, Kanti Children s Hospital held a ceremony to celebrate its 56th anniversary. Minister of Health Dipak Bohara was the chief guest, and other dignitaries from the Ministry of Health, other hospitals, universities, and government agencies were present as special guests. During the ceremony, Kanti Children s Hospital presented three supporting organizations, including Real Medicine Foundation, with certificates of appreciation. The certificate is signed by Dr. Ganesh Kumar Rai, director of the hospital; Chairman Subodh Raj Acharya of the Kanti Children s Hospital Development Board; and Minister of Health Dipak Bohara. This certificate of appreciation marks a milestone in RMF Nepal s partnership with government agencies, and we are deeply honored and proud of this achievement. Certificate of appreciation presented to RMF by Kanti Children s Hospital 8
RMF Nepal Program Manager receives certificate of appreciation for RMF s support to Kanti Children s Hospital The hospital published Souvenir 2018 to commemorate the day. 9
The hospital s publication included a short article by RMF Nepal Program Manager Ganesh Shrestha. 10