HDCS, Nepal-Medical Scholarships
Nepal, with its population of 29.6 million people, is located in Asia. It is landlocked, and borders China in the north and India in the south, east and west. Nepal has endured long political uncertainty after a civil war, has few resources to grow its economy and is subject to earthquakes and landslides.
Over 25% percent of its total population are living below the poverty line and earning less than USD1.90 a day [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), 2020]. It is ranked 149 on the UN’s Human Development Index out of 189 countries [United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2020].
A majority of the population living in rural areas of Nepal are poor, have various health problems and economic hardships. Difficult geographical terrain, lack of resources and few doctors in rural areas make it challenging for the locals to receive quality health services. Many people from remote areas have to walk many hours to reach the nearest health facility. HDCS aims to increase access to and reduce the economic burden of accessing health services.
Needs
There is a need to train more nurses, doctors and clinical technicians to work in the three remote community hospitals and the Public Health program that HDCS runs. HDCS aims to train local people to ensure newly trained medical professionals commit longer term to working at the local hospitals thereby lowering staff turnover rates.
Medical Mission Aid has been involved in funding opportunities for locals with a clear commitment to their communities, to train in nursing and other medical and health related professions. Some of MMA’s previous scholarship recipients are now nurses in charge of their local hospitals.
For the next three years, MMA will be supporting the training of two women, one in Nursing and one in Dental Hygiene.
Sailesh received a scholarship from MMA from 2013 to 2017 to study a Bachelor in Pharmacy from Hope International College, Lalitpur. After completion of his study, he joined in Lamjugn District Community Hospital in rural Nepal as a Pharmacist, where he serves the many disadvantaged and marginalised people who come for treatment at the hospital. Sailesh acknowledges that the support of MMA has contributed hugely to the success of his career.