November 2010  

We want to give thanks for the following:  

• If you remember in our last prayer update we had a 16-year old girl who was on the ventilator after a snake bite. We are pleased to say she recovered fully and is now back home with her family. The snake had also bitten her mother too, but she was in a less serious condition.

• Excellent renovation work going on in the hospital as our workshop team move departments and enhance existing ones – it really does make such a difference to the environment and the quality of service we offer. Renovations of our Operating Room are now complete and we have managed to install piped oxygen, rather than having to use heavy cylinders that have to be moved around by hand. If we have enough funds in the future we hope to extend this oxygen system so it is available on some of the other wards too

• The number of patients seen and operations performed are up year-on-year. We are seeing a growing demand for our services which is wonderful. We are trying to enhance the level/range of medical services available, and in so doing offer an even higher level of care to the people of Palpa district and beyond.

We’d really appreciate prayer for the following:   

• We are still urgently in need of an orthopedic surgeon. Currently we have one Nepali surgeon who is really stretched trying to deal with all the cases single-handedly.

• Please pray for a suitable primary teacher from June 2011, as this is when our current teacher will be leaving. The teaching role at our small international school is crucial in order to allow expatriate medical personnel to have education for their children and thus enable them to continue to work here. Without a teacher we would lose many of our families. If you know of anyone who may be suitable for the role please ask them to get in touch. More information can be found by clicking here.

• Hospital security is still an issue. Across Nepal there is a continuing trend toward unhappy patients/relatives resorting to threats/violence against hospitals in order to gain some form of compensation. This is done if they feel the care/service they received was below standard. Sadly these situations arise frequently, even when there has been no negligence, and put a huge pressure on hospitals and disrupt services. Please pray that we would be protected from these as we have been through some very difficult situations in the last few months.

• An ongoing need is for our Pastoral care team who do an amazing job here sharing with patients, providing counseling, running the toy round, helping long-stay children with their school work as well as administering financial assistance to the poorest patients. It, as you can imagine, is extremely stressful and draining at times. Please pray for strength and real encouragement for them as they go about their duties.

• As patient numbers increase and we continue to enhance our facilities we need more experienced staff. Please pray that we would have the necessary resources both financially and staffing-wise to continue to move forward.

Thank you for your ongoing support for the hospital.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like any more information.

Dr Rachel Karrach

Hospital Director