Thank You to our Fall 2016 OB/GYN Medical Teams

(photo credit:  pinterest.com)

We are happy to report that we have had two repeat OB/GYN medical teams come to help ladies in need this fall.  In October, our patients were blessed with the return trip of Centura Global Health Initiatives OB/GYN team from Colorado, U.S.A. Check out their website here:  https://www.centuraglobalhealth.org/CGH/Home/

Have you read about the problem of uterine prolapse in Nepal?  If not, here is an informative article:
http://www.irinnews.org/report/100238/rethinking-nepal%E2%80%99s-uterine-prolapse-treatment

Did you miss the story of S. (not her real initial), one of our patients?
If so, click the link under her picture.

http://scheermemorialhospital.blogspot.com/2016/06/patient-stories-uterine-prolapse.html

After arrival, they went right to work!
Some of our nurses helped with the preliminary histories and reports.

The look on this man's face (he gave permission for his picture to be taken) says it all:

"Please help my wife!"

"Oh yes!  That's why we're here."

Dr. Ramon Ruiz Diaz, center, our anesthesiologist, worked with the team.

We thank them again for coming and their patients thank them even more!

We'll see them again in March 2017.

Are you a medical profession who might want to consider joining one of their teams?

Click here for information about joining a team coming here and/or click around for information about joining a team elsewhere:  https://www.centuraglobalhealth.org/CGH/Volunteer/Nepal/

Soon after the Centura team went home, we had another OB/GYN team come back again.
It was Holland's Women for Women team or Vrouwen voor Vrouwen as it's called in Dutch.

As always, they made a huge difference in the lives of their patients who received relief
from pain and suffering, often after many years.

Have you seen their website?  If not, click here:  http://www.vrouwenvoorvrouwen.nl/home-en

We can't thank these volunteers and also their supporters enough for their time and efforts!

Instead of relaxing at a great vacation spot such as this,

(photo credit:  destination360.com)

they work to bring relief to others during their vacations.


(photo credit:  pinterest)

...and...

Also...we want to THANK all of our supporters for all you do to help us!!!!!

Blessings to all!

Uterine Prolapse Prevention Program--Part 2

We are proud to present to you Part 2 of the report of our Uterine Prolapse Prevention Program.

If you missed Part 1, read it here:  http://scheermemorialhospital.blogspot.com/2016/08/uterine-prolapse-prevention-program.htm

You will find the introduction and reasoning for the program...
and this Thank You:
We want to thank the Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Finland's Adventist Development and 

Relief Agency (ADRA) for the financial and emotional support they gave us to have the chance to give educational information to Nepal's next generation.  We also thank all those all over the world who also support us, not only financially, but also prayerfully!  Thank you!

Now, here is Part 2, quoted from the official report  written by Mr. Sundar Thapa,
Senior Executive Officer and director of the program.  The photos are also Mr. Thapa's.

"The second and final phase of training was conducted from 08 – 10 April 2015 by  Scheer Memorial Hospital OB/GYN, physiotherapy and nursing staff, Dr. Binod  Aryal, Dinesh Chataut, and Mrs. Sunita Chataut, respectively.

"Train-the-Trainer candidates learned about anatomic support structures for pelvic    organs, as well as how failure of these structures results in pelvic organ prolapse.  They also learned  simple steps could be taken to prevent this condition.  This was essential training for these trainers to be able to train other individuals in the causes  and prevention of pelvic organ prolapse.

"Because of the major earthquakes in Nepal on 25 April and 12 May, commencement of the rest of our program was delayed until late August. 

"The training of teachers sessions lasted for two days, whereas health teachers (who have a stronger background in health sciences) only required one day of training. The training centers were placed in appropriate secondary/higher secondary schools, i.e. those schools that have been used as a Resource Center and which covered at least 15-25 schools in that particular cluster.

  " A 20-minute video called 'Obstacles yet to Overcome' precedes the actual start of instruction. This emotionally-charged video affects most people who watch it and provides an understanding the plight of many women in Nepal.   It portrays the difficulties their medical condition imposes on them, their families, and the communities in which they live.  It highlights the many challenges of daily life and especially the social isolation from family and community that pelvic organ prolapse creates.

          "On the first day, only the Female Community Health Volunteers attended training.  On the second day the health teachers also attend, but all training was conducted separately.  Prior to the start of training, a short introduction was provided, followed by a pre-test to assess the student’s level of knowledge regarding pelvic organ prolapse. At the end of training, all students took a post-test to assess their level of comprehension and mastery of the material."

Mr. Sundar Thapa and Mr. Dhruwa Nepal pass out completion certificates in Banepa, 

Kavre District.

Bhupan gave lectures for health teachers.  This lecture was at Kawasoti Center,

Nawalparasi District. 

Training sessions commenced here and there:

   
Syangja:

Syangja:

Nawalparasi:

Ramechhap:

A district health officer from Ramechhap visited a training session.

We want to thank all of the team members for their time, efforts, and participation
in this important program.

Stay tuned for Part 3, which will show you the pictures of the program in progress at schools where young people were fortunate to learn about preventing this condition for themselves
and future generations.

Have a nice day and thank you again to all of our friends and supporters for all you do!

Uterine Prolapse Prevention Program--Part 1

We are proud to present to you Part 1 of the report of our Uterine Prolapse Prevention Program.

You may have heard that uterine prolapse is a huge health problem in Nepal.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/9/uterine-prolapsethehiddenagonyofnepalesewomen.html

We are thankful for medical teams who give of their time and medical expertise, and using their own
financial support, come and do surgery for uterine prolapse victims, many of whom have
been acutely suffering in silence for many years.

To read more about their work, check out the websites of these teams:

Centura Global Health Initiatives:
https://www.centuraglobalhealth.org/CGH/Home/

Vrouwen voor Vrouwen...or Women for Women in English.
This organization is from Holland and their website is in Dutch.
Below is the translated link.  If you have trouble, use your own translator.
https://translate.google.com.np/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.vrouwenvoorvrouwen.nl/&prev=search

Open Heart International:
http://www.ohi.org.au/

If you missed it, see our June 6, 2016, post for a uterine prolapse patient story.

However, treatment is something done after the fact.  Prevention can open up the world
to upcoming generations of young Nepalese women who won't have to suffer as their
mothers, grandmothers, aunts, friends, etc. have done for countless years.

Prevention and educational programs are necessary for this reason.

Here is a long, but comprehensive study about prevention:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3422110/

Knowing the necessity of joining the other organizations with prevention programs,
Scheer Memorial Hospital was able to launch its own Uterine Prolapse Prevention Program.

Here, in quotes, are details from the official report written by Mr. Sundar Thapa,
Senior Executive Officer and director of the program.

"As a country, Nepal faces many health challenges.  A major affliction affecting many women is the wide-spread problem of uterine or pelvic organ prolapse.  This disorder results from the heavy labor and the societal roles of Nepali women, in addition to the lack of proper nutrition.  Carrying heavy loads, returning to manual labor soon after child birth, home childbirth deliveries, and social taboos are also major contributing factors.

        "Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and International NGOs (INGOs) traditionally concentrate their efforts on treatment programs rather than pursuing the more effective prevention programs.  In collaboration with the Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Finland, Scheer Memorial Hospital sought a different approach.  We initiated an educational project (Uterine Prolapse Prevention Program or UP3) to train Female Community Health Volunteers, with three-four volunteers chosen from each Village Development Committee and Health Teachers from each of the government run secondary/higher secondary schools within each district.

Dr. Dale Mole', Scheer Memorial Hospital's CEO, signs the agreement between

Scheer Memorial Hospital and ADRA Finland to implement the program.

(photo credit:  ADRA Finland)

(Note:  We want to thank the Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Finland's Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) for the financial and emotional support they gave us to have the chance to give educational information to Nepal's next generation.  We also thank all those all over the world who also support us, not only financially, but also prayerfully!  Thank you!)

         "Prior to conducting training sessions for Female Community Health Volunteers and Health Teachers, an orientation program was conducted for district officials such as the Chief District Officer, Local Development Officer, District Health Officer, and District Education Officer.  Other concerned officials, as well as local media, also attend the orientation and education programs which provided a broad overview of the project and its objectives. 

"The Training for Fieldwork Trainers or Training of Trainers was conducted for our selected candidates by a team of experts provided by Mrs. Aune Greggas (Finland).  A large Finnish contingent was augmented by local experts at Scheer Memorial Hospital.  

Some of the participants:

(photo credit:  ADRA Finland)

"The first phase of intensive training was conducted from 18 – 20 March 2015 at SMH.  The team consisted of the following experts:

·         ""Mrs. Ritva Kuusisto – Midwife & Public Health Nurse and Trainer: She provided instruction on the uterus from conception to delivery, physiologic changes that occur with pregnancy, and what steps are important for a healthy mother and baby.  

·         "Mrs. Harriet Fagerholm – Physiotherapist: With the assistance of her son, Andreas Fagerholm as a translator, explained the importance of Kegel's exercise in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and its role in the prevention of pelvic organ prolapse.

·         "Mr. Ben Greggas – Program strategist: Provided an overview of the benefits, including the economic advantages, of preventing pelvic organ prolapse.  He provide a comprehensive overview of often ignored or rarely considered aspects of the benefits derived from prevention programs.

·         "Mrs. Uma Thapa, Director of Nursing at SMH - Mrs. Aune Greggas had asked her to present in Nepali all the most important topics from her health education workbook "Healthy and Happy Nepal". The workbook and the PowerPoint-lectures have been translated into Nepali and they will help the participants to find good sources of materials for health education to live healthy.  

·         "An additional aspect of this training session was the inclusion of two nursing students from Diaconia University of Applies Sciences (Finland), Hanna Maasola and Reija Koivukangas, who were able to assist with the program evaluation and measures of success."

Here is the main team from Finland, left to right,

Mrs. Ritva Kuusisto, Harriet and Andreas Fagerholm, Aune and Ben Greggas

(photo credit:  ADRA Finland)

Again, we want to thank them for coming and for helping us get this program up and running!

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Blessings to all of our friends and supporters!

Patient Stories--Uterine Prolapse

Here is S*...

(*not her real initial)

...who is one of the ladies who has benefited from uterine prolapse surgery

at Scheer Memorial Hospital.  Her smile shows her happiness since she has been able to live her life to the fullest again, pain free--after many, many years of suffering!

Her story is typical.  She was married at age 20, and the young couple started their family right away.  Pregnancy did not keep her out of the fields.

Have you read about this?  It's an important article about pregnancy in Nepal:  http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26154092

S. had her babies, five in all, at home, and like many Nepali girls, was assisted by a neighbor.  She never saw a doctor, midwife, or even a nurse.  Again, like so many Nepali girls,
only had advice from her mother.

She felt lucky because all of her babies lived and she didn't have to go back to the field to work until 15 days after each birth.  Many girls do not have this luxury and must start working sooner.  She also didn't have to carry heavy loads on her backs, which is very common in Nepal.  whether you're pregnant or not, or even if you've just recently delivered.

Here's another very important article about pregnancy in Nepal.
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/07/what-pregnancy-is-like-in-nepal/277287/

However, even though she was able to wait 15 days after giving birth before going back to the fields, S. did have to work quite hard, as was necessary, and she was soon experiencing pain that increased every day.  What to do?  There was only one thing:  Grin and bear it, as the saying goes.

Yes, she continued with her life, continued to have children, and continued to smile
and pretend she wasn't in pain.

It was hard to convince her husband that she needed to go to a hospital, but he finally consented, realizing that she really was always uncomfortable and in pain, and she was able to go to Kathmandu, where a "round thing" was put inside her.
http://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/vaginal-pessaries
However, she still had pain.  She went back two more times for a reinsertion, but she still had pain.  Thinking that it was just her lot in life, S. learned to live with the pain.

Many studies estimate that approximately 600,000 women in Nepal suffer

from this condition.  The following article is very telling...

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/may/07/nepalese-women-stigma-fallen-wombs-prolapsed-uterus

and so is this one...

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/9/uterine-prolapsethehiddenagonyofnepalesewomen.html

One day a neighbor told S. about a uterine prolapse women's health team that was coming to Scheer Memorial Hospital in Banpea.  Would she, should she, try again?  Her daughter and some friends convinced her to go and see if she qualified.  "What could it hurt?  They can only say, 'No.' "  By this time, she had been living with pain for about 30 years!

"I'll take a chance and go," she said.  What happened?  Well, did you see her smile in the above pic?
Happiness happened!
She felt better immediately and is very satisfied.  Wow!  What a difference!
She now feels like a young girl again and happily does her chores!
She can even enjoy playing with her nine grandchildren now!

S. also has some advice for pregnant ladies:  Go to a hospital or birthing center.
Take advantage of Nepal's Safe Motherhood Program, http://safemotherhood.org.np/.
Make sure you get in all your doctor visits.
Talk with you friends and be supportive of each other.  REST after giving birth!
Seek medical help if you experience any problems, as soon as the problems present themselves.
Don't wait so long like I did.  You DON'T have to live with pain!

She wants to give a big THANK YOU to the women's health teams who come to Nepal!

We are blessed and happy to report that several medical teams visit us to perform surgeries to help these ladies.  Recently, two of the teams have been here.  The team members who come choose to have a working vacation and not only fund their own expenses, but also fund the surgeries.
You can see why we are so happy to be able to help those in need via their help.

One recent team was Australia's Open Heart International.  This organization, as their website states, treats, teaches, and empowers!

(photo credits:  Dr. R. Ruiz Diaz)

To learn more about their work, see videos, read their blog posts, and see their photo galleries, check out the Nepal section of their website (or also check out their other projects):
http://www.ohi.org.au/think-our-locations-nepal/

If you are a qualified medical professional, with interest in joining one of their teams,
click here:  http://www.ohi.org.au/volunteer.html


We were also recently blessed by the presence of Centura Global Health Initiatives Women's Health Team who performed the same surgeries.  Read about their work here:
https://www.centuraglobalhealth.org/cgh/projects/nepal/

(photo credits:  Dr. D. Watson)

On their website, there's also a place for qualified medical professionals to click who are interested
in joining one of their teams.  Their next visit to Nepal will be in October.

We want to thank all the medical teams who come here again:  THANK YOU!!!

We hope to see you again soon!