Project Description

Project ID

06NSI001

Project Type

Funded Project - Development Project

Project Title

Medical Education for Rural Nepal

Project Summary

Nick Simons Institute (NSI) is seeking the support of the ANMF as NSI implements its program of medical education for rural Nepal. NSI sees great potential in utilizing the network of ANMF for the purposes of recruiting clinician-teachers, medical educationists, public health professionals and others as volunteers who could support NSI's work, especially in these early stages – and of making the mission and work of NSI known more widely. NSI is deferring any request for ANMF's financial support until we are further along (we may submit a financial proposal in the next ANMF funding cycle).

Location

Nepal

Time Frame

Ongoing

Institution

Nick Simons Institute

Contact

Mark Zimmerman, MD
Executive Director
Nick Simons Institute
PO Box 8975; EPC 1813
Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal

Email:  nsinsi.edu.np
Telephone:  977-1-5013502
 

ANMF/Nepal Project Manager

Ngawang Choedon Lama
NgawangChoedonanmf.net

ANMF/America Project Manager

Janak Koirala, MD
Janak Koiralaanmf.net

Bhargab Dixit, MD
BhargabDixitanmf.net

Hillary Liss, MD
HillaryLissanmf.net

Project Description

ANMF Input

1. Express a commitment in principle to collaborating with NSI.
2. Make NSI and its mission known, including by listing it as a link partner on its ANMF webpage. (Likewise, allow NSI to list ANMF as a link partner.)
3. Help recruit North American professionals as volunteers, in particular:

• Clinician-teachers – including but not limited to doctors
• Medical education specialists
• Research volunteers (An excellent role for students.)
• Others, including those with experience in public health, marketing, and primary school education

NSI Input

1. Include ANMF in regular communications about NSI progress.
2. Provide ANMF with updated information about NSI's need for volunteers.
3. Be responsible for volunteers while they work in Nepal.

[For future ANMF funding cycles, NSI plans to make a request to ANMF for financial support for NSI's "Adopt a District" scholarship program (still in evolution). This current proposal makes no direct request for funding, nor does it imply any future financial obligation on either party.]

Material Requested

None

Training Requested

None

Advisors/Instructors Requested

None

Travel/Expenses Requested

None

Grants/Stipends Requested

None

Other Items Requested

None

Total Funds Requested

None

Budget

None

Additional Information

In March 2006, Nick Simons Institute (NSI) was established with the mission to train and support skilled, compassionate health care workers for rural Nepal. It has emerged out of several confluent streams: First, it is well known that the traditional methods of medical education have not successfully addressed Nepal's urban-rural gap in health care access: vast stretches of Nepal have no health care providers. Second, experience in Patan Hospital, Tansen Hospital, and several Nepalese government hospitals showed us that training for certain levels of government health care worker did eventuate in high numbers remaining in rural posts. Third, extensive dialogue over the last two years with officials in Nepal's Health Ministry, National Health Care Training Center, and development INGOs identified cadres of health care training that should be given highest priority. Fourth, the Simons family of New York, one year after losing their son Nick, asked a group of health professionals working in Nepal to develop a memorial project in medical education.

NSI intends to advance its mission through three means:

1. Quality Health Care Training
   Some examples of programs that NSI is helping to build up include the skilled birth attendant, anesthesia assistant, mental health block training, health assistant practicum, orthopedic assistant, MDGP doctor, and biomedical technician. (These include mid- and upper-level health care workers, some existing programs and some in development.) We want to emphasize that NSI is working closely with the government to develop programs that meet the Health Ministry's current human resources plans and ability to absorb trainees.
2. Post-training Support
   In addition to follow-up of trainees at their place of work, NSI is working on a package to encourage rural retention: continuing medical education, communication support, and education support for children of health care workers.
3. Scholarships
   We have first identified the General Practice doctor (a Family Practice specialist) as the doctor most likely to remain for extended periods and to lead teams in rural areas. NSI will award GPs with bonded scholarships.

The NSI office is in Jhamsikhel, Patan, and it functions as a facilitating body for training that will take place in partner institutions across Nepal. NSI is in positive stages of negotiation with Tansen Mission Hospital, Bharatpur Govt. Hospital, Patan Hospital, Dandheldura Hospital, Scheer Memorial Hospital and others about developing their institutions as affiliated NSI training centers. A Board composed almost entirely of distinguished Nepalese citizens (see attached NSI organization lists) governs NSI.

We established NSI as a company because that provided the best means for attaining operational autonomy and financial control. However, NSI's contributors, Board, and management team can provide assurance that Nick Simons Institute is a fully non-profit, charitable company with no potential to benefit any individuals apart from Nepalese patients. We can provide this verification through current documents, as well as through financial statements at each year's end. Funding for NSI presently comes through the Simons Foundation, and soon will come through the Nick Simons Foundation – both US-based non-profit (501c(3)) organizations.

Common Ground between NSI and ANMF

1. Mission to reach out to the underserved, especially in rural areas.
2. Use of the multiplying effect of medical education.
3. Financial efficiency and accountability.
4. Non-profit operation.
5. Both seeking active, complementary partnerships.

NSI has a high regard for the potential of the ANMF network of friends. Tied to the Nepalese community in North America, ANMF can both recruit health care professionals and potentially link this diaspora with a partner organization working in respective "home" districts. These strengths complement those of NSI, which implements entirely on Nepalese soil. This proposal is not seeking "special project" status for NSI, because we understand ANMF's history regarding that concept. You can be assured that NSI will work hard to produce benefits for both sides of any collaboration.

Nick Simons Institute

PO Box 8975; EPC 1813
Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
nsinsi.edu.np
977-1-5013502

Established March 2006

Board Members
Dr. Bhekh B. Thapa (Chair)
Dr. Mark Zimmerman (Member Secretary)
Hon' able Chitra Lekha Yadav
Dr. Buddha Basnyat
Mr. Kunda Dixit
Dr. Sanduk Ruit
Dr. Kesav Mathema
Mr. Pravakhar Rana
Dr. Kundu Yangsom (Patan Hospital)
Dr. Olak Jirel (HDCS)

Management Team
Dr. Mark Zimmerman (Executive Director)
Dr. Kusum Thapa (Training Officer)
Mr. Bikash Shrestha (Finance Officer)
Mr. Taramuni Shakya (Administrative Manager)
Ms. Indra Rai (Training Manager)

Technical Advisory Group
Dr. Maureen Dariang (UMN)
Mr. Krishna Man Shakya (Shanti Nepal)
Mr. Muni Shakya (High Tech Pioneer)
Dr. Bruce Hayes (Patan Hospital)
Dr. Buddha Basnyat (NIC)
Mr. Kunda Dixit (Nepali Times)
Dr. Olak Jirel (HDCS)
Dr. Rita Thapa (Retired MoH)
Ms. Christine Stone (Save the Children)
Dr. Indira Basnet (DFID, IPAS)


Contributors
Drs. Jim and Marilyn Simons
Simons Foundation
New York, NY

Project Status

8/14/06	Request received by ANMF/Nepal
10/21/06	Project approved by ANMF/Nepal
11/5/06	Project approved by Projects Committee
11/19/06	Project approved by Board
6/4/07	ANMF/NSI collaboration proceeding smoothly and productively