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04/03/2011
As World Health Day approaches, we reflect on our project partners working tirelessly to improve children’s access to health in some of the most remote regions on the planet.
Dhulikhel Hospital, situated in the Nepal’s mountainous ranges around Kathmandu, has been providing children and communities with healthcare training to protect them during the rainy season - when their access to proper medical care is most threatened.
Schools across the region, including Shree Shivalaya School, have been working with Dhulikhel Hospital as part of a School Health Programme, to provide pupils with basic medical skills and educate them about the importance of good hygiene to help prevent disease and illness.
“School children are the future generation, so what better way than to promote the message of health through them to take home to their parents and elder generations.”
Samita Giri – School Health and Women’s Health Programme
Co-ordinator at Dhulikhel Hospital
In Shree Shivalaya School, in Bolde village, Darash and Dawa, both 18, are two pupils who know the importance of health and hygiene. They consider health education vital to their village’s development.
“We need to teach our classmates what we’ve learnt because they don’t understand sometimes how important hygiene is...
After we received training on hygiene and sanitation, there was a dumpsite in the village which my friends and I cleaned up.”
Dawa, pupil ay Shree Shivalaya School
The wider issue: Education is key
In the remote villages surrounding Kathmandu, health and hygiene are important issues which must be addressed to counter the problems caused by a lack of sanitation facilities – a shocking 59% of Nepalese Community Schools have no toilets. While poor access to proper health care during the three month rainy season further emphasises the need for projects like the School Health Programme, which are providing children and communities with the knowledge they need to improve their healthcare.
One teacher explains just how crucial the education aspect of healthcare is, particularly in the village of Bolde, home of Shree Shivalaya School.
“Five or six years ago, a German NGO came to build toilets throughout the village, but only now villagers are using them. They never knew how to before. Now, because of the School Health Programme, children are starting to use the toilets properly in their own homes and they explain to their parents: “You should flush like this”. It has started to change their lives.”
Childreach Nepal will continue to work with Dhulikhel Hospital, delivering health care education across the Kathmandu region.
Work with our partners by supporting them.
Find out how else our partners are working with communities to improve child health.
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