Minority Focus, 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].
The level of poverty in Nepal results in many students who would like to study to improve their situation are unable to. Minority Focus, a faith based organization, began operations in 1985 with a purpose of providing partial scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain further education in technical, medical and vocational sectors. Since its establishment, it has helped over 2000 graduates to obtain education in various fields.
This project aims to provide scholarships to students who come from poor economic backgrounds, who cannot afford a college level education in medical related fields. Medical Mission Aid has been involved in the training of Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, General Medicine and Hospital Administration students.
Mahima Khanal
Empowering women in Medical Leadership
A MMA sponsored graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging Technology, Mahima joined the radiological department of a Neuro Hospital, Bansbari, in Kathmandu after graduating as a radiological technician. She is the very first student to graduate in this field under an MMA scholarship and is hoping to study a Masters in Nuclear Medicine Technology in the future.
"I am very grateful and honoured to have been selected as the support I have received has helped me a lot with my academic fees and my financial needs".
Deborah Khadka
Deborah Khadka comes from Sindhu Palchowk, one of the heavily affected earthquake districts of Nepal. Coming from a remote community and a family with a limited income, she was in financial crisis during her nursing course.
"I completed my staff Nurse course successfully. I have undergone a year internship field practice in the hospital and then I worked at Thankot Hospice Center and then after I joined Norvic International Hospital. I am much thankful to Minority FOCUS and its partner Medical Mission Aid for the provision of scholarship at the time when I was in great need of finance to pay tuition and other charges of the College. I plan to study Bachelor in Nursing at Hope International College in order to equip myself to become a qualified leader in nursing service in Nepal. Please pray for my future nursing career".