PROJECT AASHA 2024: A JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF NEPAL'S HEALTHCARE
- Medsoc PnP
- Sep 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 17
BRINGING HOPE TO THE HIMALAYAS
In 2024, Project Aasha set out on an unforgettable journey to the vibrant and rugged lands of Dharan and Terhathum, Nepal — a mission brimming with learning, impact, and cultural exchange.
Our team was a dynamic mix of passionate minds: Dr Kumaran, Dr Sandeep, Dr Melvin, Ms Felicia, 13 eager medical students from LKCMedicine, and 2 spirited physiotherapy students from SIT, all ready to dive into the unknown, learn, serve, and grow.
GETTING THERE: The Road Less Travelled
Every great adventure begins with a journey — and ours started the moment we touched down at Kathmandu Airport. But this wasn’t your average commute. What followed was a 16-hour winding bus ride through Nepal’s majestic mountain ranges, where misty peaks and steep cliffs accompanied us all the way to Dharan, a buzzing city nestled in eastern Nepal.
DHARAN: Where Healthcare Meets Humanity
B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS)
In Dharan, we were welcomed into BPKIHS, the region’s main referral hospital. It’s here that we saw a whole new side to medicine: one that was raw, resourceful, and deeply human.
Attached to the orthopaedics department and joining doctors on their morning ward rounds, what we witnessed was eye-opening.
Patient records were kept in files tucked under mattresses.
Almost no nurses or allied healthcare, only family members as caregivers.
Family members camped out in hospital corridors, having travelled for days from remote villages — not knowing how long they’d stay, and often with nowhere to live in the city.
Consultation rooms overflowed, with patients literally pushing their way in. Sometimes, three consultations happened simultaneously in the same room!
And yet, amidst the chaos, professionalism, compassion, and care still shone through.
We observed surgeries that were impressively well-executed in clean, well-equipped theatres, despite the limited resources. Dr Sandeep even stepped in for complex consultations that the local doctors couldn’t handle — from burn patients with fused fingers to nerve transplants after road traffic accidents.
His calm confidence showed us what it means to balance clinical excellence with human compassion.
CHATARA HOSPITAL: Innovation in Action
Next, we visited Chatara Hospital, a small but mighty district hospital that’s redefining what it means to serve a community.
It’s the only hospital open on weekends in the region.
It runs from early morning to late evening, just to meet demand.
Doctors often don’t get paid on time, and yet they continue to show up — day after day.
Despite its size, the hospital offers dentistry, ophthalmology, and gynaecology services.
It boasts the highest rate of health insurance utilisation in the region.
Here, we learned firsthand about the Nepalese healthcare system, its strengths and challenges, and the incredible resilience of the people who keep it running.
MEETING LOCAL LEADERS: Listening, Not Just Helping
We had the honour of sitting down with local health officials to understand the core issues they face.
Dr Kumaran reminded us of a powerful truth: “It’s not about what we want to do for them — it’s about what they need most.”
That was the mindset that guided every step of our journey.
LOCAL HEALTH SCREENINGS: Hands-On with the Community
One of our most meaningful experiences was joining a local health screening in Dharan.
Held in the cool early hours before work and school, the event ran smoothly and efficiently, a testament to the community’s familiarity and trust in the process.
We got our hands dirty (quite literally) helping with blood pressure readings, venepuncture, and more. We chatted with locals, volunteers (some of them nutritionist students), and soaked in their perspectives on health challenges in the region.
TERHATHUM: Mountains, Radio Waves & Ortho Camps
Here, our doctors collaborated with the local hospital to run an orthopaedic camp — it was even broadcast on local radio! (Yes, we were local celebrities for a day!)
Over 200 patients showed up.
Our SIT physiotherapy students offered free consultations for those suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain.
We witnessed the resourcefulness of local doctors who, despite limited tools, found ways to deliver top-notch care.
We also learned more about Nepal’s unique system where medical graduates serve a mandatory 2-year bond, often being sent to remote areas they’ve never been to. Some of the Medical Officers we met hadn’t returned home for over a year — the travel time alone made it nearly impossible during their short leaves.
Their dedication and sacrifice left a lasting impact on all of us.
WHAT WE TOOK AWAY
This wasn’t just a trip. It was a transformational journey.
We saw healthcare stripped of luxury — and full of heart. We met patients and doctors who redefined resilience. We were reminded that real change starts with understanding, not assumption.
Project Aasha’s mission will continue — but Nepal has already left its mark on all of us.
Until next time,
Namaste.
