Project Aasha

Our roots
Aasha means “hope” in Nepalese, reflecting our mission to bring healthcare to underserved communities in Nepal. Founded in 2015 by LKCMedicine students alongside the Singapore Institute of Technology's (SIT) physiotherapy school and National University Hospital (NUH), Project Aasha is a clinician-led OCIP bridging multiple disciplines.

Our mentors
Over the years, Project Aasha has has engaged with various specialists, such as spine surgeons, ophthalmologists, and physiotherapists. Our founding mentor, Dr Kumaran Rasappan, is a consultant in musculoskeletal oncology and orthopaedic trauma at NUH – and was the first Singaporean to summit Mount Everest for charity in 2012.

Our efforts
As one of LKCMedicine’s longest-standing OCIPs, the scope of the project has naturally evolved to meet changing community needs. From 2016–2020, the team focused on eye health in Biratnagar and Gorkha rregions; notably, Dr Rupesh Agrawal and colleagues, in partnership with Birat Eye Hospital, performed 506 cataract surgeries across four days in 2021. Students assisted with various screening and health education efforts, including work at the Gyanchakshu School for the Visually Impaired and in the rural villages of Bung. Data collected during surveys were put towards epidemiological studies, and was later published at various international conferences.

Post-pandemic in 2024, the project has re-established itself in Dharan with a renewed focus on orthopaedic care.