August 2014 Health Calendar

Scheer Memorial Hospital wishes everyone a happy and healthy August 2014!

Health awareness concerns for this month include
Bone Marrow Donation and Leukemia Awareness Month

(which is actually from August 15 to October 15).

Do you know much about leukemia?

There is no single known cause for leukemia.  To read more about it,
we direct you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukemia
and/or http://www.webmd.com/cancer/understanding-leukemia-basics.

To read about the Bone Marrow Transplant Project in Nepal,
check out the Binaya Foundation's website:
http://binayfoundation.org/project-bmtcenter/

and the Global Giving website:
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/build-center-to-treat-blood-cancer-in-nepal/

For any questions, please come in for a consultation.



Polio Awareness Week was from August 4-8, but it's still relevant to
keep updated on this dreadful disease.

Are you up to date?
Read Wikipedia's entry about it for information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliomyelitis

The World Health Organization has declared Nepal polio free, which is excellent,
but we should never lose our vigilance or relax our awareness.
Here is the World Health Organization's report on Nepal:
http://www.who.int/features/2014/polio-nepal/en/

...and Nepali Magazine's article
http://sajhilo.com/nepal-polio-free-nation-declares/





The first week of August was World Breastfeeding Week.



This article gives some information about a healthy diet for breastfeeding mothers.
http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/buzz/3-health-care-tips-for-mothers-who-are-breastfeeding/

Sometimes problems and/or pain are encountered while a new mother is breastfeeding.
If you, or anyone you know, is experiencing any problems in this area,
please come in for a consultation with one of our obstetricians.
Don't suffer in silence.  You are not alone.



August is also Organ Donor Month.




Yes, there is an organ donor organization in Nepal, called
The Human Organ Transplant Center.
For more information, visit their website:
http://hotc.org.np/

This article explains some of the problems Nepal is having right now with this issue:
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Organ+donors+a+rare+breed+still&NewsID=358820



Another topic for August health awareness is
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month.





Have you had your children's (or your own for that matter) eyes checked out lately?
Don't delay if you haven't.  Come on in for an appointment.



Another health problem to be aware of in August is Psoriasis.
Yes, it's also Psoriasis Awareness Month.

This article from The Himalayan Times explains this chronic skin condition:
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Psoriasis%3A++Precaution+is+the+only+cure&NewsID=383012

Even though it's a few years old, this essay explains the negative impact of
psoriasis on patients with this condition in Nepal:
http://www.ukessays.com/essays/health-and-social-care/psoriasis-in-nepal-health-and-social-care-essay.php





It's also Immunization Awareness Month.
Do you know which diseases are common in Nepal?
Read this post to find out:
http://www.nepalinternationalclinic.com/category/common-diseases/

and this one too:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-4-select-destinations/nepal
(cdc is Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)



Stay safe and come in for a consultation to review which immunization
you and your family need to update yourselves with.

Again, we wish all of our friends and supporters a lovely and healthy life.

However, remember if you find yourself or a loved one having a health problem,

we are here and ready to give help!

Take care and God bless!

Patient Stories--STROKE!

STROKE!  Even hearing this word can bring a little bit of fear into your heart, and if it doesn't, it should!

Worldwide, the incidence of strokes is rising.  This article from Medical News Today gives us the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7624.php

 

Do you know much about strokes? 

This photo from http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/
explains what they are in a very basic way.  Click onto the website for more information.

You can see that strokes are 4th cause of death in the U.S.

Do you know what the number is for Nepal?

It's the 3rd cause of death here in Nepal 

according to http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/nepal.

This website has some interesting information if you have time to check it out.

Do you know the warning signs of stroke?

Knowing these signs could save your life or the life of a loved one.

Check out this website for more details:   http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=symp 

	FACE:Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
	ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
	SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
	TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

(...or call or get to your local hospital immediately!)

We have a stroke success story to tell you about.  Why is it a success?  It’s a success because the patient followed all of his doctors’ orders, changed his diet, and faithfully stuck to (and still is) his exercise routines as prescribed by the head of our Physiotherapy Department, Mr. Parakram Raj Pandey.

Here is Mr. Umesh Shrestha exercising his hand.

Umesh Shrestha, a motorcycle mechanic with two shops, was leading a normal happy and busy life.  He knew his family history.  His father had had a stroke at the age of 52 and lost his speech.  However, Umesh felt himself to be strong and physically fit.  Even though he had diabetes and high blood pressure, both controlled by medication, he ate whatever he wanted to and like most people, did not think he was in any danger of any further health problems.

However, at age 42, his life changed forever.  One day he had a neck ache.  He thought it was just a stiff neck, like you get when you sleep “funny.”  When he woke up the next morning, he felt a definite, and scary, weakness in his neck.  He immediately called someone to take him to Kathmandu to a hospital.  The first hospital he went to referred him to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.  This was good news as one of his uncles, Dr. Uttam, is a doctor there.  By this time, he was feeling really strange and was unable to talk.  His uncle came to the emergency room and immediately admitted him.  
His diagnosis:  stroke!    

It was a tough blow.  He was only 42 years told!  Even his dad at 52 was too young for a stroke!  However, these case histories can help us realize that anyone can have a stroke, 

and you don’t have to be a grandparent! 

Umesh felt happy to be alive and decided right then and there to do all in his power to take back his health!  After only ten days in the hospital, he was able to return to his home and begin his recovery.  The first thing he did, with the help of his wife, was to completely overhaul his diet.  Now, two years down the road, he is completely controlling his diabetes and blood pressure with a healthy diet and herbs, and is off of his diabetic and blood pressure medicines.  What a testament to good health habits!  Yes, he keeps his doctors’ appointments too, and his doctors are very happy with his progress.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.healthyfoodteam.com/why-we-need-to-eat-healthy-food/)
(Thank you!)

The second thing he did was to follow his doctors’ orders and start physiotherapy.  He was told that Scheer Memorial Hospital had the closest physiotherapy department to his home and he started right away.  For these two years he has been a faithful patient to that department.  He rarely misses a day and that’s why our physiotherapists are so impressed with his progress.  

 “He is a living testament to the value of faithful physiotherapy,” states Mr. Pandey.   

When Umesh first came, Mr. Panday was given a copy of all his test results from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, and was able to make a plan of action to retrain his muscles to do what they did before the stroke and treat his musculoskeletal deficits.  He explained how hard it would be and how much patience it would require.  It’s a little bit like learning to play the piano or a musical instrument.  You can’t give a concert after two lessons!  But Umesh was up to the task and never stopped his therapy, even when it was hard and painful.  Yes, two years later you can still find him usually every afternoon right here in our physio department! 

Besides the previously mentioned retraining of muscles, he is regaining his mobility.  Yes, he usually still goes to work in one of his shops, where his wife and son are working.  What a wonderful feeling to be able to continue his "normal" life!

Mr. Pandey is happy with Umesh's progress--brought on by his hard work
and determination to succeed!

Success through strength is one of physiotherapy’s mantras.  In the beginning, Umesh, like many people needing physiotherapy, had assistance with his exercises.  As he regained his strength, he was able to move on to the next step and do the exercises on his own.  Success through strength!

Assistant physiotherapist Mrs. Januka Bista Khadka oversees shoulder exercises.

Mr. Bijuli Lal Pradhan, assistant physiotherapist, works with Umesh with
one of his strengthening exercises.

The goal of physiotherapy after a stroke is to let the patient have his/her life back as much as possible.
If you read the above website, stroke.org, you will have found these facts:

(Thank you stroke.org)

• 10 percent of stroke survivors recover almost completely
• 25 percent recover with minor impairments
• 40 percent experience moderate to severe impairments requiring special care
• 10 percent require care in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
• 15 percent die shortly after the stroke

     These statistics can be sobering.  This is why early intervention is a must.

With early intervention, following doctors' orders, healthy eating lifestyle changes, 

and consistent physiotherapy, 

patients can be among the survivors listed at the top of this list.

We're so happy that Umesh is on his way to becoming one of the 10%!

Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he became proactive and successful!

If you have questions about strokes, or any other health issue, 

please come in for a consultation with one of our doctors.  
You don't have to already be sick to have your questions answered!

We wish you a good day...and GREAT HEALTH!

Did you know...?


(photo credit:  http://suhanijain.com/2012/10/19/fruits-are-good-for-heart-health-healthy-eating-tips/)
(Thank you!)

July 2014 Health Calendar

GOOD HEALTH!

Don't take it for granted!

This picture (from http://goodhealthandbeauty.com/?page_id=258)

shows us some of the components necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

This July there are two world health events 

to raise awareness of the following two concerning conditions:

1.  July 11, 2014:  World Population Day

2.  July 28, 2014:  World Hepatitis Day

Don't be left unaware!

For more information about World Population Day, you can read Wikipedia's page here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Population_Day
 

You will find a link there to the list of countries by population.
Do you know where Nepal is on the list?  Take a guess and then check to see if you are right!

Asia is the continent with the largest population with over 60% of the world's population!  The theme of World Population Day 2014 is "Invest in Young People Today, to Ensure a Bright Future."  This means that young people need to be aware of the human right to plan for a family.

To find out how many people are born and how many die each minute, hour, and day,

click here:  http://www.ecology.com/birth-death-rates/

Again, take a guess and then check to see if you were right! 

There is a Population Association of Nepal and you can check out their website here:

http://www.pan-nepal.org/ 

Awareness is a good thing!

Next, let's look at the worldwide problem of hepatitis.

Did you know...?

 To help you become aware....

 This photo is from the United Nations website:  http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39158&Cr=..#.U7v0HvldWT5

The article was written in 2011, but is still relevant today.

For more information about World Hepatitis Day, you can read Wikipedia's page

here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Hepatitis_Day

This article from the World Health Organization is an excellent read to bring you up to speed
on your awareness of this disease:

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/hepatitis/en/ 

There is a mention of Hepatitis E in that article.

Did you know that in Eastern Nepal right now, there is a problem with this?

You can read about it here: 

http://theotherasiannews.com/2014/05/11/nepal-hepatitis-e-epidemic-9-dead-and-over-6-thousand-infected/

 More information:

Even more information is here in this Himalayan Times article:

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Hepatitis%3A+The+silent+scourge&NewsID=244776

Please stay healthy and take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Please don't hesitate to come in for a consultation if you have any questions

about your health or the health of your family.

That's what we're here for!

Bye for now and BLESSINGS!

Summer News: Part 1--Pediatric Surgeries

Hello!  We hope you are having a lovely summer day!  

We are having lovely HOT and HUMID days here this summer.

This means our neighbors are able to get their rice planted.

We are all praying for more rain however.

Here, this summer, at Scheer Memorial Hospital, besides our usual business,
which keeps us busy serving the sick and wounded with love, 

we have started a new and important campaign.

If you keep up-to-date via our Facebook page, you already know about it.

The following details are straight from our Facebook page:

Announcement: Free Pediatric Hernia & Hydrocele Surgery Camp now in session for ages 2-12. There is funding for 100 patients, on a first come, first served basis. Please call 984-139-4900 for more information.

Isn't this wonderful news?

We are so thankful for the donors who are making this surgery possible

 for children who would otherwise have to live with their conditions.

Illness in every person is difficult.  However, to watch a child battle illness is the most difficult since they don't understand why they don't feel good and can't go out to play.

This picture, from texaspediatricsurgery.com, shows some of the places on the body
where hernias can show up.





All parents know that it's a huge worry when the health of your precious children is compromised.
If there is a financial worry as well, it becomes more difficult.
Therefore, again, we say THANK YOU to our donors!
They can only imagine the happiness they are giving to the families able to benefit from their donation!

Do you know much about pediatric hernias?

This article from kidshealth.org explains the many intricacies of hernias in children :

 http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/surgical/hernia.html

Do you know much about the condition named hydrocele?

This article from webmed.com explains the many intricacies of hydrocele conditions:

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/hydrocele-topic-overview


To end this post, we have some pictures of our dedicated surgical team performing these surgeries 
and giving back quality of life to our young patients.

Have a nice day!  Many blessings for all of our supporters and friends.
Stay tuned for further news. 



Dr. S. Bhuju is the team leader and surgeon.  
Keeping meticulous records is an integral part of the job.

June 2014 Health Calendar

Good health is nothing to sneeze at!  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."  If you would like to read the Wikipedia article about health, you can click here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health.   To read the World Health Organization's Nepal page, you can click here:  http://www.who.int/countries/npl/en/.  You will find statistics, news, and Nepal's country profile, which includes the Health Profile, WHO Collaboration, Mortality & Burden of Disease, Nutrition, and Risk Factors.

Also for your information, below please find the World June 2014 Health Calendar.
June 1 is International Children's Day--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Day
     You will find links to how many countries celebrate our future, our children!

June 2 is International Cancer Survivors Day--Here is the website of Nepal's Cancer Society:  http://www.cancersocietynepal.org.np/  Even if you and your loved ones are cancer free, it's a good idea to read about what's happening here in Nepal where cancer is concerned.  Additionally, here is the website of the Nepal Cancer Relief Society, an organization founded by the late Princess Jayanti Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah:  http://www.ncrs.org.np/

June 3 - 9 is World Heart Rhythm Week--This article explains more:  http://whatsnew.eucomed.org/2010/06/world-heart-rhythm-week-more-awareness-of-heart-rhythm-conditions-globally/  This article from the American Heart Association give tips to keeping your heart healthy at any age:  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/Preventing-Heart-Disease---At-Any-Age_UCM_442925_Article.jsp

June 4 is International Day of Innocent Children-Victims of Aggression--http://www.un.org/en/events/childvictimday/  Our beautiful children are our future and their preciousness can not be overstated!

June 5 is World Environment Day--http://www.unep.org/wed/  On this website, United Nations Environment Programme, you will find some interesting articles as well as interesting Instagram photos.

June 14 is World Blood Donor Day--http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2014/en/  This year's theme is "Safe Blood for Saving Mother."  The above World Health Organization website has lots of information and even a video.

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day--Here is the United Nations page about Elder Abuse Awareness:  http://www.un.org/en/events/elderabuse/  This is an important global issue.

June 16 - 24 is National Epilepsy Week and June 21 is Epilepsy Day--Here is the website of the Nepal Epilepsy Association:  http://www.nepilepsy.org.np/  This website is very informative and also has a video.  For a detailed description of this disease in Nepal, you can also read here:  http://www.neurology-asia.org/articles/20031_001.pdf

June 24 - 28 is Drug Awareness Week--This article, although from last year, explains some of the problems facing young people in Nepal as far as drugs are concerned:  http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Drug-addiction-reaches-crisis-levels-in-Nepal-with-Hindus-the-most-affected-28337.html

June 26 is The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking--Let's join the fight against drugs and keep our young people informed of the dangers of drugs.  Here is an informative article about drug and alcohol abuse, especially among young people, in Nepal:  http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/nepal-drug-abuse-treatment.html  Here is the same website's information about drug rehab in Nepal:  http://www.narconon.org/drug-rehab/nepal/

All month is Migraine Awareness Month--http://www.dxn-nepal.com/dxnnepal/Dynamicpage.aspx?id=68  This article is very informative.
So this is article:  http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=39348&cat_id=10

Other articles about migraines worth reading from http://migraine.com/ include:

http://migraine.com/infographic/10-signs-your-child-might-have-migraines/
 
http://migraine.com/blog/10-things-i-want-to-share-about-migraines/

http://migraine.com/blog/the-migraine-dirty-dozen-things-not-to-say-to-a-chronic-migraineur/

http://migraine.com/migraine-basics/migraine-phases/

If you have any medical problem or question about your health or the health of your loved ones, please come in for a consultation with one of our doctors.  We are here to help you.

Lastly, click here:  http://www.lifestyle-herbal.com/index/12-habits-to-improve-your-lifestyle- for Twelve Habits to Improve Your Lifestyle!

Have a happy and healthy day!

Spring 2014 News--Goodbye!

GOODBYE!  "Goodbye!" is sometimes hard to say!  However, time doesn't stand still and keeps on slipping away, so sometimes you can't ignore it and have to say it!  Here at Scheer Memorial Hospital we had to say goodbye to some beloved friends who came into our lives--some for a short while and some for a long while!  However, they will all always be in our hearts!

Standing left to right during their last Sabbath with us are Andrew and Elliott, helpers from America, the Lamichhane family, Oshin, Sumitra, Perlin, and Rakesh, a long time office worker, and our pastor Elder Kumar Adhikari, who formally said, "Goodbye, thanks and God bless!"

Time flies when you're having fun and it sure flew for all of these folks!  Andrew and Elliott were only with us for less than a year--it went by too fast!  We now wish them all the success as they head back to their university to finish their studies.  The Lamichhane family has been with us for numerous years and we were blessed to see the family grow!  We now wish them all the success as they head to their new location in Gatthaghar, Nepal, where Rakesh will begin his career, where he actually started some years ago, in the office of the Nepal Section of Seventh-day Adventists where he will be the treasurer.

After the pastor's thank you speech, Mr. Sundar Thapa gave another.

Some of our girls passed out gifts,

...and then we all sang a congregational song:

Thank you for playing the piano Timothy and the guitar Bikram!

The best part is that we know this is true:  God will be with them until we meet again!

Roshmi lead our song service--thanks!

While Binod played the piano, Aashish wondered when he will be old enough to take lessons!

We're happy to report that our young people are learning how to participate in the service.

Here we have Krashis manning the computer--good job!

The words to our songs and also the Bible texts are now able to be seen by all in English and Nepali both!

Next we were all blessed with a beautiful special music selection.  

Thank you Flora, Bikram (guitar), and Abhishek (piano)!  Here's a glimpse:

Our assistant pastor, Elder Pukar Shrestha, gave an informative and inspiring sermon, 

with Binod Dahal translating.

So now we formally say another THANK YOU and GOODBYE!
You will always be in our thoughts, prayers, and hearts!

 Our two promises for all of you are from Genesis 31:49,

and Jeremiah 29:11.

To end, please enjoy a few pictures of our friends!
We hope they won't be strangers and will come back to visit!
Blessings!!!!!

GOODBYE and have a nice life full of blessings!