Supporting health posts after the earthquake

"I entered the health sector to serve the poor and needy. I believe real wealth lies not in gold or silver but in good health," says Bam Bahadur Tamang. He is the member secretary of the Health Facility Operations and Management Committee (HFOMC) and in-charge at Gairimudi health post.

During last year's earthquake, Gairimudi health post in Dolakha came tumbling down and the officials there were forced to operate under the open sky for the first few months. Those were difficult times but the situation is gradually changing for the better. Currently, they are working in a congested temporary shelter made of corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets.

The temporary health post has just three small rooms and it lacks a toilet. Moreover, medical equipment and supplies are also lacking. The fragile CGI structure is quite uncomfortable for the health officials and patients, specially during the summer as it gets quite hot inside.

"Many times patients have fainted due to excessive heat inside the health post," says Bam Bahadur. Fortunately, a new and better-equipped health post is being built with the support of World Vision and Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund. The new health post is being built according to modern construction standards with general health care facilities. Moreover, it will have amenities which were not previously available such as a birthing centre, placenta pit, and sanitary tank.

World Vision has also been providing health management training to HFOMC members in 3 Village Development Committees in Dolakha. The training is based on the official government curriculum published by the Nepal Health Training Centre. Its objective is to support the committee members in the effective functioning, supervision, and monitoring of health facilities. The training also highlights the importance of gender equality and social inclusion while offering services to the local community.

Binda Budhathoki, member of the committee, shares, "In the training, I learnt that there should be a separate checkup room at the health post to offer privacy to women and children. I also found out that we should provide proper space in our villages to conduct immunisation clinics. Moreover, we should keep necessary medicines and medical equipment in stock so as to be prepared for disasters and emergencies."

Bom Bahadur adds, "The training taught me how to monitor whether marginalised people in the community have access to health facilities or not. I also found out that there should be emergency fund at the health post to provide service to the poor and vulnerable people."

To date World Vision has provided HFOMC trainings to more than 230 people and it has been supporting construction of 9 health posts in 5 earthquake-affected districts.