The WASH project for clean drinking water continues to be a successful model. The system runs smoothly and is used diligently by the school children for drinking water and for washing their hands and faces.
Construction progress Health Post
The construction of the mini-hospital is progressing quickly. In the week that Isabelle spent in Chepel at the end of April, the ground floor was placed on the earthquake-proof foundation. Apart from an excavator, there is no mechanical support and almost all work is carried out by hand and with the simplest tools. Besides Isabelle, the pictures show the project manager Karma (in a red T-shirt), to the left of him the construction manager, and 2 workers. The Health Post is expected to open in autumn 2024.
There are still around 5,000 Euros missing from the total budget for creation. This is due, among other things, to the fact that after the construction site was excavated, it became apparent that a retaining wall still had to be built behind the two-story building in order to make the entire area earthquake and mudslide-proof.
Ausstattung und Personal für den Health Post
In addition, during the on-site visit and discussions with the three employees, it became clear that the planned equipment could be significantly improved and supplemented. The midwife also needs official training (certificate), for which she must complete a 2-month course. In principle, both the equipment and the staff are provided by the Nepalese government. However, the construction of the health post is carried out with financial resources (donations) from Friends of Chepel e.V.
The staff – Mira Adikari, paramedic, Sabita Gimire, community nurse and midwife, and Sormila Rai, admin support and caretaker activities – are already working in a temporary facility below the new building, which currently only consists of two rooms, and are very much looking forward to moving with them soon significantly improved options.
Health examination of 80 school children in Chepel
During the visit with 4 doctors, the opportunity arose to thoroughly examine the majority of school children in Chepel and thus get a good overview of what the predominant complaints are among children in this remote village. It turned out that
- over 50% of children have tooth decay and some of their teeth are in very poor condition; that’s why training on dental hygiene immediately followed on site
- 50% of children have skin problems including skin eczema, poorly or non-healed wounds, parasitic diseases and mites
- Approximately 10% of children have eye problems
- There were 5 cases of heart murmurs, some of which were associated with significant short stature and were clinically noticeable (Continued supply in Kathmandu is organized through donations from Friends of Chepel e.V.)
- almost 20% of children are in reduced general and nutritional condition
Dental hygiene training
During the visit of some members of Friends of Chepel e.V., comprehensive training on dental hygiene was carried out at the school in Chepel, during which all school children and, in the afternoon, parents were shown in detail how thorough and efficient tooth brushing works using models and later through self-experimentation. In addition to the practical part, the training also had a theoretical part in which it was explained how important brushing your teeth is. This was combined with a game for the children, so that this was an entertaining and fun interactive event, at the end of which all participants were able to go home with a toothbrush and toothpaste (both suitable for toddlers, children or adults).
