Waiting outside the Nyaya Health Clinic

Now we are ready to expand our reach, and we need your help. Over twenty years ago, a hospital was built in the village of Bayalpata in the district of Achham in the Far Western region of Nepal. Poor, rural, and without government services, the district was without any major health facilities. But Bayalpata Hospital was never opened. Owing to bureaucratic entanglements, the hospital was never staffed. Over the subsequent years of war and severe poverty, the hospital remained largely vacant. Now, together with the Ministry of Health, and your support, we are working to finally open Bayalpata Hospital.

Staff heading towards the abandoned Bayalpata Hospital

The situation is critical. The nearest ventilator, essential for providing breathing support to seriously ill patients, is 14 hours away by vehicle. The nearest blood transfusion center and functioning operating room is over 10 hours away. This is an impossible distance to cover by walking, which is how the majority of Nepalis in the area travel, for those in need of such medical services. As a result, preventable illness and death are commonplace. For example, maternal mortality is extremely high in Achham, with a rate nearly 100 times greater than in the United States. Our clinic has begun to address the lack of health services, but we are already treating 140 patients a day and demand is steadily increasing as our community health worker network expands.

By renovating the abandoned hospital, we will be able to expand outpatient services; provide inpatient beds; implement a blood transfusion program; and roll out an essential surgical program. The construction and three-year operating financial need for the hospital is $580,000. Since launching the campaign last month, we have raised $224,000 for this purpose. Your tax-deductible donations will go a long way towards our goal.  Support our work by visiting the following link:

http://www.nyayahealth.org/donate