International Activity Report 2006

Nepal

International Staff: 12

National Staff: 97

Nepal’s civilians remain caught in a violent struggle between government forces and Maoist rebels. The fighting has caused mostly civilian casualties — more than 13,000 people are estimated to have died in the bloodshed since 1996. Hundreds of thousands of people have now been displaced in a country where nearly half the population already lives below the poverty line.

Fighting has limited access to healthcare and worsened health conditions for most of the country’s inhabitants. Many health workers have left their positions and movement between Maoist and governmentcontrolled areas is difficult, making referrals and distribution of medical materials extremely problematic.

To provide assistance, MSF runs the 15-bed Salle Hospital in the capital of the Rukum district. MSF staff treat patients, supply medicines and clean water and manage waste disposal and hygiene. Each month, the team carries out approximately 2000 medical consultations, including 100 hospitalizations. MSF also supports outlying health posts in the same district, which conduct approximately 3000 medical consultations a month.

MSF is also active in the western Kalikot district. Starting in June 2005, MSF began rehabilitating the 15-bed district hospital so it could offer basic and secondary health care, reproductive healthcare, TB treatment, and emergency services. MSF also improved the power and water supply systems. MSF sees approximately 1600 patients per month in the outpatient department and admits patients to the hospital when required.

MSF expanded its activities with a new project in February 2006 in the Khotang district. MSF offers 24-hour healthcare to local residents including inpatient care and emergency obstetric care. The team is also rehabilitating Khotang’s Diktel District Hospital and is recruiting badly needed health staff.

MSF has worked in Nepal since 2002.