Project Description

Project ID

07PH001

Project Type

Fund Raising Project

Project Title

Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing and Pharmacy Training in Nepal

Project Summary

Round trip airfare to Kathmandu for 6 non-physician trainers (nurses and pharmacists) over 3 months period.

Location

Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Kathmandu

Time Frame

Spring/summer, 2009

Institution

Patan Hospital
G.P.O. Box 252
Kathmandu, Nepal

Telephone: (011-977-1) 5522266, 5522278

Contact

Neelam Adhikari, MD
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Patan Hospital

NeelamAdhikari@gmail.com

ANMF/Nepal Project Manager

None

ANMF/America Project Manager

Sangita Basnet, MD
SangitaBasnet@anmf.net

Project Description

Patan Hospital is a busy, 334 bedded mission/government hospital located in Kathmandu, Nepal. Each year we see over 300,000 outpatients and 16,000 admissions. Many of these patients come from the far corners of Nepal. As well as being one of Nepal s largest hospitals, Patan Hospital is known as a charity hospital where no patient is turned away for any reason. Patan Hospital has a staff of over 65 doctors. The hospital is involved in training on a number of different levels, including Postgraduates in Pediatrics. At present there are 30 postgraduate residents and interns working in Patan Hospital. The hospital s doctor training program includes both active conference and seminar schedule and a fine supervised experience in the ward and clinic. The hospital puts a high emphasis on training staff for outlying hospitals, such as its programs in MD GP (General Practice equivalent to Family Practice in USA), anesthesia assistant, nurse midwifery, and ultrasound.

The pediatric population makes up a significant number of patients in Patan Hospital. We see and treat a wide variety of cases, a significant number of which are critically ill. These children are admitted to the adult ICU. In fact, there is only one facility designated for pediatric critical care (PICU) and Neonatal Critical care (NICU) in Kathmandu valley with a limited number of beds. There is a scarcity of pediatricians and paramedical staff trained in the care of critically ill children in all of Kathmandu and Nepal. At this stage, an acute need for establishment of a PICU and a level III NICU is felt. With the help of Mr. and Mrs. Simons from USA, a 150 bedded Maternity ward with Special Care Nursery and NICU is being built. At the same time, a 6 bedded PICU is also planned. The physical structure is due to be completed and handed over in June 2008.

Managing critically ill children requires a team effort. This being a highly specialized field, we will need trained paramedical staff, nurses, and pharmacists, in addition to physicians. This is the only way we can make a difference in the care of our children. Sangita Basnet, MD, an intensivist currently in the U.S., has been able to recruit volunteers who will give their valuable time to train our nurses and pharmacists. It is easier and cost effective if experts in each area, i.e. pediatric and neonatal ICU trained physicians, nurses and pharmacists, come to Nepal to train a big group of people rather than a number of people go out of Nepal to get trained. The training can be done in our own environment and the experts can help take care of patients while providing training. Dr. Basnet has received offers from physician intensivists who will come to Nepal on their own expenses to help train physicians. However, we will need finances to cover airfare for the paramedic staff trainers, i.e. nurses and pharmacy staff.

We believe that ANMF's strength lies in its network and ability to coordinate efforts between institutions in North America and Nepal. We would like to make the following  requests to the ANMF.

  1. We would need help in identifying a team of trainers in pediatric and neonatal critical care in the United States who are qualified and motivated to take on this 3 month project. Dr. Sangita Basnet has already started this process with her personal efforts.
  2. Since most of the volunteers Dr. Basnet has contacted have expressed their ability to stay in Nepal for only up to a month, a US team would arrive at Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, every month. We are planning to provide the training for 3 months total. There will be 3 teams of a physician intensivist and/or neonatologist, a nurse and a pharmacist spending about a month each. We request ANMF to provide support for travel expenses for non-physician trainers only. Patan Hospital will make arrangements for their boarding in Nepal.

Material Requested

None

Training Requested

3 months training of nurses and pharmacists

Advisors/Instructors Requested

U.S. based physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists

Travel/Expenses Requested

Round trip airfare to Kathmandu for 6 non-physician trainers (nurses and pharmacists)

US $10,800 (based on current airfare US $1,800 per person)

Grants/Stipends Requested

None

Other Items Requested

None

Total Funds Requested

$10,800

Budget

Round trip airfare to Kathmandu for 6 non-physician trainers (nurses and pharmacists) over 3 months period at the current rate of US $1,800 per person: 

Total requested budget = US $10,800

Additional Information

The visiting U.S. team is going to train the physicians, nurses and pharmacists at Patan Hospital and will also help start the pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit. After the initial set up and training, our Nepali staff should be able to run the intensive care units.

Future training programs will be requested as felt necessary.

We plan to furnish a feedback to ANMF (the grantor) after completion of the project.

In USA, you may contact Dr. Sangita Basnet regarding the logistics.

Project Status

5/26/07 Proposal received by ANMF/Nepal
8/17/07 Project approved as a Fund Raising Project
9/12/07 Project postponed to 2009
3/8/09 Update from Dr. Sangita Basnet
3/26/09 Update from Dr. Sangita Basnet

 


This is a unique opportunity for you to make a difference for the people of Nepal. Please make a donation to the America Nepal Medical Foundation. ANMF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.

After you fill in the information below (so ANMF can track and acknowledge your contribution), you will be taken to a page with details on how to make your gift. Donations can be made to ANMF by check or online with a credit card, but a check means that a little bit more money gets to Nepal.

Contribute
Payment:
Amount:
Target:
Name:
Address:
Email:
Submit:

Thank you!

April 30, 2010 10:18 AM