|
Madhu Acharya |
Shailesh Gongol |
Kady Safar |
|
Anita Adhikary |
Rekha Hamal |
Gopal Sapkota |
| Gaury Adhikary |
Rupa Hamal |
Bipin Saud |
|
John Allegrante |
Richard Katzman |
Binod Shah |
|
Omkar Basnet |
Janak Koirala |
Labu Sharma |
| Rita Basnet |
Prabhat Kunwar |
Sarina Sharma |
|
Sangita Basnet |
Hillary Liss | Sunil Sharma |
|
Shatrughan Bastola |
Edith Macmillan |
Binay Shrestha |
|
Durga Bhurtel |
Ian Macmillan |
Nirmal Shrestha |
|
Pradeep Bista |
Indira Malla |
Sudeshana Shrestha |
| Donald Blair |
Y Malla |
Sunder Shrestha |
|
Allison Brustin |
Tara Manadhar |
Mohan Thakuri |
| Marvin Brustin |
Ashish Maskey |
Brendan Thomson |
|
Mary Carroll |
Nigam Maskey |
Mridu Thakuri |
| Khagendra Chetry |
Stuart McLaughlin |
Suman Timsina |
|
Barbara Christie |
Kamala Neupane |
Bhupendra Wagley |
| Bhargab Dixit |
Prakash Neupane |
Shama Wagley |
| Shiva Gautam |
Tara Niraula |
Libby Wilson |
|
Matthew Griffith |
Devendra Pradhan |
Mark Zimmerman |
Please click here for the Conference Highlights.
SESSION I
Rekha Hamal Chetry provided the opening remarks and welcomed all to the start of the 10th anniversary of ANMF.
Prof. John P. Allegrante of Columbia University Education Department gave the keynote address “Delivery of Health Services in Conflict Situations”. He discussed how global changes affect health, how conflict disrupts health and delivery of services. He concluded by presenting solutions to improving health in conflict situations.
Dr. Mark Zimmerman, Executive Director of Nick Simons Institute (NSI), gave a presentation of the goals of the NSI Rural Health Project and its efforts to find a workable model to provide health manpower training, retention and redistribution of health care workers in rural Nepal.
Dr. Don Blair, first Chairman of ANMF, gave a nostalgic presentation of a decade of ANMF activities since its inception in 1996.
SESSION II
Dr. Tara Niraula presented a brief summary of his previous work as a health educator for Save the Children Fund. This work involved training and integrating dhami jakris (indigenous health providers) as primary health providers for the clinic in Sindu Palchok.
Dr. Shatrughan Bastola presented a summary of his experience as a public health administrator, superintendent and epidemiologist for the government of Nepal. He reiterated that the burdens of disease in Nepal are still in the areas of maternal and child health and infectious diseases.
A panel discussion including Tara Niraula, Shatrughan Bastola and Mark Zimmerman followed. One of the conclusions was to obtain a needs assessment of rural health districts, find ways of integrate existing services and have the Nepali diasporas in the US and Canada adopt their own district of origin to help upgrade the needed services. ANMF could act as an intermediary between the diasporas and the district health personnel.
The session concluded with a talk by the Honorable Permanent Representative to the U.N. for Nepal, Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya. He suggested the use of women’s groups to complement health activities in Nepal.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30pm for lunch.
SESSION III
The meeting resumed at 1:30pm.
Honorary Consul General of Nepal, Mr. Marvin Brustin discussed how best to use the money raised by ANMF. Examples to enhance project proposals included providing seed money and matching grants. Also the idea of encouraging the profit motive and taking advantage of marketing opportunities in promoting health was suggested.
Janak Koirala gave the ANMF’s Chairman’s Report.
Mark Zimmerman gave a presentation sent from ANMF/N. Their recommendations were to have a monitoring tool for funded projects and to increase the Nepal coordinator’s position to full time.
Gaury Adhikary gave a review of ANMF funded projects for 2005-2006 .
Allison Brustin gave a summary of the fundraising gala dinner in Chicago that netted approximately $30,500. Some thoughts for future fundraisers were auction items such as celebrity signatures, art work by emerging artists from Nepal, and even a simultaneous virtual party hosted by ANMF members in other cities. The next fundraiser is planned for spring 2007.
Telemedicine Project with Stanford University talk was cancelled.
Ian Macmillan gave an update on the formation of ANMF’s sister organization to be named Canada Nepal Medical Society (CNMS). He has consulted with Canadian lawyers and accounts on the pertinent legal matters. The word “foundation” does not have a strong charitable connotation as in the US thus the word “society” is used. The bylaws have been formulated and an application as a charitable status has been sent to the Canadian government 6 weeks ago. A preliminary website is formed: http://www.canadanepal.ca/
Janak Koirala summarized the projects proposals for 2006-7. Due to the political changes in Nepal, the deadline for applications has been extended to September 2006.
Khagendra Chetry presented the legal aspects of ANMF as it expands to work with projects and other international organizations, most relevantly with Canada. He noted that there was no limitation by the ANMF bylaws that prevented cooperation between the two organizations and they could have reciprocal board members.
SESSION IV
Mary Carroll presented the activities of Friends of Patan Hospital, a non-profit organization based in Denver. This organization raises funds and equipment need for Patan Hospital. There is currently a targeted campaign to procure equipment for the new maternity ward.
Tara Niraula, President of American-Nepal Friendship Society introduced the audience to the society whose goal is to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
Shailesh Gongal introduced the Help Nepal Network, a global organization with chapters in many countries, that provide charitable services in areas of education, health and disaster relief.
Ashish Maskey, presented on research done by his group at Patan Hospital on typhoid resistance in Nepal. He touched on some of the challenges facing young physicians in doing research in Nepal.
Prabhat Kunwar introduced the newly formed International Nepali Biomedical Society. Its purpose is to provide a forum for Nepalese studying and working in the biomedical field. Dr. Cliff Tabin, an ANMF Board member, is on the advisory board of INBS. There exits a unique opportunity for future collaboration between INBS and ANMF.
The day’s programs concluded at 5:00pm