About Children's Medical Aid Foundation

Click here to learn about our work in this 12 min. video presentation

Our Vision
Children's Medical Aid Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children in Nepal through surgical correction of congenital defects and posttraumatic injuries. By facilitating surgical correction of birth defects, we will help children born with handicaps and disfigurement to avoid the stigma, shame and embarrassment that sometimes keep them isolated from school and community. Surgery will provide children with functional and aesthetic benefits, offer hope for a normal childhood and brighter future.

Who Do We Help?
Many children in remote villages do not receive medical treatment because of geographical constraints, poverty, lack of medical supplies and trained personnel. The foundation will promote education regarding congenital defects and post-traumatic injuries and their treatment through surgery and therapy.

How Do We Help?
We will solicit and collect medical supplies from donated sources, hospitals, clinics and manufacturers. They will be transported to Model Hospital by volunteer couriers and travelers. We will provide the funds necessary to maintain this program through contributions and fundraising events. We provide educational opportunities for the advancement of the medical staff by subsidizing tuition and related expenses. In-service training of the medical staff is provided as an on-going basis. We offer doctors, nurses and medically trained people volunteer opportunities in Nepal.

What makes us Different?
We support Model Hospital and the Plastic Surgery Dept. that hosts our program. Local physicians and surgeons understand the needs of the young patients, cultural differences and the political circumstances that play a role in delivering a sustainable, comprehensive program. By contributing to their efforts you will be making a difference in the lives of the children they serve.

About Our Work

About two newborn children out of one hundred are found to have some congenital abnormality (birth defect) that is easily detectable at the time of birth. Congenital abnormalities of the face and extremities often involve handicaps and very distressing to the family as well as to the child as he/she grows up. Many of these children are kept hidden due to the families enbarassement or sense of guilt. Superstitions and spiritual beliefs may also be factors in keeping disfigured children out of school and community life. We locate the children in need of our help and educate families and communities about the services available to them. This may be their only chance to be freed from from the stigma, shame and handicaps associated with their congenital defect. Villagers with post-traumatic deformities will also be candidates for free surgical correction.

The average cost of a each operation is $200. This covers transportaion, food, lodging, surgery, anesthetic, recovery room, post op visits, dressing changes, all medical goods and equipment needed and physical therapy sessions. Just think for $200 you can be personally responsible for changing a childs life forever.

This is a comprehensive, sustainable and growing program designed to meet the needs of the patient before during and after surgery.

Before                               After

Changing the outside to heal the inside.

Dr Shankar Rai (pictured above) has dedicated his entire career to, performing free surgeries for impoverished children with birth defects such as cleft lip, burn contractures, syndactylism (web fingers) and microtia (ear deformity). Children's Medical Aid Foundation & Model Hospital, a non-profit hospital in Kathmandu, has designed a program to sponsor and promote the care of children born with congenital defects that would otherwise not be helped. Click here to learn more about the Surgical Team

Children's Medical Aid Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization. We are funded through personal donations and fund raising events. Volunteers play a crucial role in CMAF success. Please join us in helping the children of Nepal in need of reconstructive surgery.

Click here to join

Children's Medical Aid Foundation
Tel: 707-938-1807 Fax: 707-996-4074 Cell: 415-302-2178
E-Mail: carolvernal@sbcglobal.net

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