Health Camp at Khudikhola, Pokhara-32

Right4Children organized a one-day free health camp in Khudikhola, Pokhara-32 in collaboration with local government and local health institutions. 

Mr. Akal Bahadur Karki, Ward Chairperson, inaugurated the camp, stressing the importance of health in women's lives. He committed to increased health budget allocations in collaboration with Pokhara Metropolitan City, expressing gratitude to all who helped facilitate the camp. 

The health camp identified early signs of various health issues and promoted regular health checkups and hygiene practices among school girls and community women says Phool Maya Dura, Right4Children’s Health Worker who assisted the health camp. She said the camp

The health camp was aimed at raising awareness about women's health-related diseases, emphasizing the need for systematic health inspections including palpation, percussion, and vaginal examinations.

Participants engaged in comprehensive health checks such as Visual Inspection and Acetic Acid tests, facilitated by healthcare professionals including Dr. Sabin Shrestha and Dr. Amisha Shrestha from Gandaki Medical College. The examinations screened for conditions such as menopause, cervicitis, and cervical polyps, underscoring the risks associated with inadequate personal hygiene and a lack of awareness about reproductive health.

The findings exposed widespread issues, with nearly all participants from the community lacking proper personal hygiene. The screenings revealed 30 cases of white discharge and 13 instances of cervicitis among others, highlighting a dire need for enhanced health education and resources in the community. Additionally, the camp identified six cases likely requiring referrals to higher-facility hospitals for further intervention.

The health camp, supported by medicines and health workers from Right4Children, provided essential medical assistance to 119 participants. One of those participants was Run Maya Gurung, who is 70 years old. Originally from Lamjung, she is a local resident of the Khudikhola community. She and her husband relocated to this community because they found it challenging to raise their six children—three sons and three daughters—in their village. They decided to move to Pokhara in search of better livelihood opportunities.

Run Maya Gurung (70)

Her husband passed away five years ago, and she has no source of income other than the social security stipend of NRs 3,000 per month that she receives as a single woman. All of her children are married, except for her youngest son. She has been struggling to maintain a consistent income for her sustenance.

For a long time, she has been experiencing lower abdominal pain and joint difficulties. The medical team conducted a check-up and found that she had a whitish discharge. Other reproductive health organs were found to be in good condition, but she needs to maintain better hygiene.

Maya expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am happy that I could receive this service in my own community. I did not have the money to visit larger hospitals in Pokhara for a health check-up. This camp was incredibly helpful, as they also provided me with some medication. Such camps should occur more frequently, as they offer much-needed support to people like us who cannot afford the fees at larger hospitals.”

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