Earthquake--Part 14: Banepa in August 2015

Here we are in August--almost four months after the earthquake.

How are we?  Are we back to normal?  Well, yes and no!

However, we can find many, many blessings!

We certainly are blessed by the kind donations of so many people.

If you were able to help, please know that you are making a real difference.

THANK YOU!

If you prayed for us and still are praying, please know that we are very appreciative.

We have lots of patients...

We're sorry people are sick, but glad we can  help them.

That's what we're here for!

Many people here in Nepal are still struggling.  Here is an article from ABC Australia 

that can help you to understand, which also has links to other stories:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-16/nepal-earthquake-thousands-struggling-to-return-to-normal-lives/6700170

The best way to show you how our town is coping is to present to those of you who are interested
 the following pictures called  "Banepa in August 2015."  You will see that there is still much to do.

People are working and doing the best they can with what they have...

Bye!  Thanks for your continued support.

August 2015 Health Calendar--Part 1

Happy August!

This first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week.

(photo credit:  lactationmatters.org)

This year's theme is:
Breastfeeding and Work--Let's Make it Work!

Read more about it here:
http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/index.shtml

Sometimes breastfeeding is not smooth sailing.

This Medical News Today article explains that 2/3 of all new mothers have trouble--
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246187.php

Here is an article about thrush and it's difficulties:

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a8486/breastfeeding-and-thrush

Here is a picture:

(photo credit:  http://www.baby-safety-concerns.com/breastfeeding-difficulties.html )
Read the above photo credit link for lots of information on thrush and other problems!

To read the story of one woman's fight with breastfeeding and thrush:

(photo credit:)
http://www.journeyofparenthood.com/2014/10/breastfeeding-issue-battling-thrush.html

Click the photo credit link for the post.
Thank you Emily for sharing your journey with us!

There are many other interesting posts on this blog for you mothers out there,
such as this post about plugged ducts:
http://www.journeyofparenthood.com/2014/09/breastfeeding-issue-plugged-ducts.html

That doesn't sound fun, does it?

Did you see this link?
http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/
Thank you kellymom.com!
You will find out how to distinguish between plugged ducts and mastitis,
plus find out lots of other useful information.

This blog:

http://cheerfullyimperfect.com/2014/02/13/8-ways-prevent-mastitis/

gives more information!  Thank you Kirsten!  

(photo credit:  cheerfullyimperfect.com)

She has lots of interesting links too, such as:
http://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/bf-basics/latch-resources/

and
http://kellymom.com/hot-topics/low-supply/

What about here in Nepal?  Check out this article from
Health Renaissance:

Knowledge and practice of mothers regarding breast feeding: a hospital based study 

RN Chaudhary1 , T Shah2 , S Raja3 1Department of Child health Nursing, 2Department of Community Health Nursing, 3Department of Pediatrics, BPKIHS Dharan 

http://healthrenaissance.org.np/uploads/5590_19627_1_PB.pdf

and this one from Public Health Perspective Nepal:
http://phpnepal.org/index.php?listId=490#.VcM-TflViko

Did you catch this interesting and important article in ekantipur.com by
Dr.Rajbhandari from Save the Children's Saving Newborn Lives Program?
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/07/31/health-and-style/nothing-beats-breastfeeding/392953.html

Thank you Dr. Rajbhandari.

For more facts, check this out:

photo credit:

http://www.disneybaby.com/feeding/world-breastfeeding-week-10-facts-about-breastfeeding/

Click on the above photo credit link for 10 breastfeeding facts.

If anyone you know is having trouble in this area, of if you simply have questions,
please come in for a consultation with one of our OB/GYNs.

Have a nice day and stay tuned for more August Health issues!

Have a safe and healthy day!

Ending with the Pregnancy Food Pyramid...

(photo credit:  https://selfimprovedaily.wordpress.com/2014/08/23/healthy-foods-to-eat-during-pregnancy/

(Click the link to find out more!)

July 2015 Health Calendar

It's August already!  How did that happen?  

We trust your July was safe and healthy and we wish all of you the best for August!

Before we get too much farther into August, let's take a look at the two worldwide health problems that were emphasized in July.  If you stay updated, you can help yourself and your loved ones.

What is this disgusting thing?

(photo credit:  babyq.com)

It's Group B Strep bacteria.  Read about it here at babyq.com:

https://www.babyq.com/lens/lifestyle/what-is-group-b-strep/

July was International Group B Awareness Month.

It's important to know about this bacteria which can cause serious illness and even death in newborns, the elderly, and those with compromised immune symptoms.

Read more here if you so desire:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_B_streptococcal_infection  

Here's a sad, but true story of a family affected by this illness.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/10392503/Group-B-Strep-For-months-I-believed-Id-killed-my-baby.html

Please make sure your pregnant friends and loved ones talk to their obstetrician about this!


Worldwide Hepatitis Day was in July.

Here is the World Health Organization's Fact Sheet on Hepatitis, which is full of information plus numberous important links.:
http://who.int/topics/hepatitis/en/


(photo credit:  slideshare.net)

If you'd like to learn more via the slide show  where this photo is from, click here:
http://www.slideshare.net/drashokrattan/laboratory-diagnosis-of-viral-hepatitis-b-c

Thank you for this information Dr. Ashok Rattan.

This article, http://mayanepal.org.np/hepatitis-the-silent-scourge,
by Dr. Santosh Man Shrestha, the president of Liver Foundation Nepal.
explains many important details about hepatitis here in Nepal.
It's worth reading.

As always, please come in if you have questions about these, or any health issue.

This August, remember this:

(photo credit:  pinterest.com)

and this:



Be good to yourself and your loved ones by living healthfully.

(photo credit:  pinterest.com)

...and see your doctor when you need to!

Have a nice day!

News 2015--Open Heart International--Team 2

SMILES!

Yes, these are beautiful smiles from beautiful patients and their grateful families!

These are burn victims.  

Read about burn victims in Nepal here:

http://archives.myrepublica.com/2012/portal/?action=news_details&news_id=41880

This is why Open Heart International's Burn Contracture plastic surgery team 

is so important and so critical to those they help.

THANK YOU

to the 23 medical team members who traveled to Nepal this year!

If you haven't seen their website, check it out!

http://www.ohi.org.au/

Did you see this story of their 5000th patient last year?  He is a darling Nepali boy they helped.

http://www.ohi.org.au/latest-news/2014/06/05/5000thpatient/

Arrival 2015:

 

The nurses immediately started preparing their wards:

How many patients benefited from surgeries this year?  32!  

Yes, 32 precious souls were able to have the relief from their suffering that surgery affords.

You saw some of them at the beginning of this post.  Here are some more of the dear patients.

These 32 patients came from here in Kavre, and also Kailali,
where Lake Godhaghodi Tal is,

(photo credit:  en.wikipedia.org)

Dadeldhura,

(photo credit:  allthecities.com)

and Kanchanpur, home of the Chandani-Dodhara Suspension Bridge.

(photo credit:  en.wikipedia.org)

We're so thankful, not only to the volunteer team, but also to all of the donors
who made the patients' journeys to Banepa and their surgeries possible.

The Open Heart team was thankful for the delicious lunches prepared by Mrs. Rampyari Bajracharya,
seen here with Mr. Pralhad Bhurtal, project coordinator, and her daughters, below. 

Again, THANKS!!!

...and blessings to all who are reading this.  

For those who are interested, here's an interesting article from July 16:

(There is still work to do.  We thank all who are still helping!)

http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/more-needs-to-be-done-to-help-nepal-1-3832821 

Have a nice day!

New 2015--Open Heart International--Team 1

Before the earthquake, we were busy with our normal activities.  One such important activity was the annual arrival of Sydney Adventist Hospital's Open Heart International medical teams.

Long time readers of this news blog will remember their name

and their dedication to the welfare and healing of those in dire need of help,
many of whom have lived with pain for many years.  It's hard to imagine.

Here is their website:
http://www.ohi.org.au/

Feel free to peruse the site and see all of their work, which is volunteer work, worldwide.

If you click their "Blog" link, you will be able to read stories from many countries.
Just click on the name of the country you want to read about.  Don't forget to read about Nepal!
http://www.ohi.org.au/blog-nepal.html

Their first team, each time they come, is an OB/GYN women's health team.


Their main objective  is to perform much needed uterine prolapse surgery.
An alarming amount of women are living with this debilitating condition here in Nepal.

To read about this condition, from the Women's Reproductive Rights Program, click here:  

http://www.wrrpnepal.org/uterine-prolapse.php?pid=82

You will find some interesting facts and also links on that page.

Carrying heavy loads like this contributes to the problem.

If you are a health professional and have interest in joining one of their teams
as a volunteer, check out their "Want to Become a Volunteer" page:  http://www.ohi.org.au/volunteer.html

This year when they came, the mountains were still visible--always a plus!

(Right now during the monsoon season, the rice is growing, but you can't see the mountains!)

They finally arrive!

"Welcome!  Thanks for coming!"  Dr. Mole', CEO, and Prahlad Bhurtel,
project team coordinator, greet their team project coordinator Coralie Batchelor.

Welcome Program & Orientation:

There were 87 patients who had their lives back after their surgeries this year!
87!  It sounds like a lot, but it barely scratched the surface!
This is why we are happy for the help these medical teams give of volunteering their time and efforts.

These 87 ladies came from right here in Kavre District where we are,
 and also Sindhupalchok, part of which can be seen here, before the earthquake.

(photo credit:  phasenepal.org)

Yes, the name Sinchupalchok may be familiar to you if you have been keeping up
with the Nepal earthquake news.  It is one of the many areas that was devastated.

(photo credit:  ekantipur.com)

Other beautiful areas of Nepal where the 87 ladies came from are:

Gorkha, where the epicenter was, and yes, that's a village on the mountainside.
I'm sure you can guess that there's not a hospital there.

(photo credit:  ibtimes.co.uk)

Bara,

(photo credit:  en.wikipedia.org)

Ramechhap,

 (photo:  worldtravelserver.com)

Bhaktapur (also hit hard),

 (photo:  nytimes.com)

 Rauthat,

(photo credit:  article.wn.com)

 and Saptarhi.

We can only say thank you so many times, but we'll say it once again--

THANK YOU!!!

Before their departure, we had a "Thank You" program along with snacks.

Goodbye Friends and Colleagues!
We already look forward to your next visit!
Have a great year!
Bye for now!

The second team to come was the burn contracture plastic surgery team.

Stay tuned for information about the surgeries they performed.

Blessings to all!

(If you would like to read Relief Web's weekly update for the week of July 20, here it is:)
http://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-earthquake-weekly-situation-update-10-july-2015