One of the clinic's first patients.

Chisang Clinic officially opened on April 13. Within two weeks more than 200 patients were seen! Also, locals have already donated sand, bricks and their time to do the groundwork for the clinic extension that will increase capacity for providing education, screenings and treatment.

The overall goal of the clinic is to promote women’s health through the provision of maternity and obstetrics care, including antenatal, natal, and postnatal care and monthly Well Women Clinics. Chisang Clinic also strives to improve the health of children through established Well Child Clinics and monthly Immunization Clinics.

Additionally, use of the facility is provided to other local and international NGOs for special outreach programs such as eye and dental clinics.  Beyond acute clinical care, the clinic promotes community health through public health and disease prevention services designed to address local problems ranging from sexually transmitted infections and HIV, helicobacter pylori (bacteria in the stomach lining that can cause serious health problems), diarrhea, and maternal and child health.

Check out our updated photo gallery on our Program page for Chisang Clinic, or go to our Facebook page and click on Photos/Clinic Pics!

 April 30 update from Dr. Briana Cranmer of Village Volunteers:

Dr. Briana Cranmer from Village Volunteers.

A jumble of Nepali voices dance through the darkness. There is nervous tension in the air. “Ke boyo? What happened?” At the center of a crowd stands a mother tightly grasping the hand of her frightened son.  Despite her calm demeanor there is a sense of urgency in her eyes. Closer inspection reveals dried blood spattered across their hands. The mother slowly moves her thumb to reveal an open wound at the base of her son’s ring finger. Her son sliced his hand on a piece of sharp tin 30 minutes ago. We are the closest medical center for 80 km and the only place available at 7 o’clock at night. “Kripaya timi sahayog garna sakchau? Can you please help?”

Soap and water, a little lidocaine, and four stitches later the boy whispers, “Malai sutna man lagyo,” he is ready for bed. With a payment of 130 rupees ($1.75 USD) the audience disperses and clinic life settles back into the rhythm of the village.

This patient is only a small representation of the many acutely and chronically ill that the Chisang Clinic is able to care for.  The ease and speed with which the clinic Director Debendra Karki and Children’s Medical Aid Foundation Director Carol Vernal have established the Chisang Clinic reflects the strength of their determination and their commitment to the Bhawanee community. For a medical professional this is the essence of medicine. Where you use flashlights because the electricity won’t come until 8:00 pm; where water is hand-pumped from the ground because plumbing is questionable; and where tools are sterilized with boiled water because autoclaves are unavailable. Where you are forced to rely on your stethoscope and ears because X-rays and ECGs cost precious time and money; where you learn to trust your instincts because specialists are not a phone call away; where you hone your physical exam skills because lab tests are not readily available; and where appropriate patient management may mean the difference between a life-threatening ruptured appendicitis and a life-saving appendectomy. I am forever changed by this experience and thankful to be a part of such an impressive endeavor.

March 22 update from Chisang Clinic Director Debendra Karki:

The construction of the clinic building is all done – despite some difficulties with finding adequate labor. We are in an area of the country where young people have travelled to the Gulf States or Malaysia for employment opportunities. The clinic has to be specially equipped to deal with mothers and grandmothers bringing their children to the clinic, as few male members of the family remain in their communities. We have to specialize in reaching out to women and children of families that have no male members left back at the villages.

The downstairs Outpatient Unit is partitioned into two examination rooms and a waiting area for 8-10 patients. Each examination room will have its own examination bed (3 feet high) with lots of storage space on the bottom, a chair and desk for the healthcare provider and one chair and a stool for the patient and a family member. We have space to wash hands for the healthcare provider. We also have a Storeroom and a Nurse’s Room. We are still working on the Treatment Room and the Changing Room.

To accommodate volunteers, guests and interns, we now have one large bedroom with two beds, a smaller bedroom with a bunk bed for two, and a living room with a bed. We have more room downstairs for extra guests.  All guests, volunteers and interns will have their own closet space with keys, a desk and chair with appropriate electrical wiring.  We have a kitchen, toilet and shower facilities, and a large veranda on the second floor of the clinic that faces the east (to be cool all year round as the Monsoon winds blow from the east to the west) with plastic chairs and table.

The clinic’s first intern, Briana, arrived in Kathmandu (from the University of Arizona) in March and will be staying at the clinic for 6-8 weeks. She is being introduced into the community and will be conducting home visits for patients. More interns are expected this year. We have experienced a lot of enthusiasm from the local community, and already have lots of people wanting Briana to do home visits, and to see patients at the clinic. We have identified many older patients that will require home visits as well as pregnant mothers. All follow-ups will be done at the clinic.

Six kiosks, located adjacent to the clinic, have been newly painted and look good. These will provide employment opportunities for locals and revenue to help sustain the clinic.

The clinic garden work has begun and some of the plants will be planted after the first of the Monsoons hit eastern Nepal. It will look really lush in a year’s time as we have a tropical to sub-tropical climate here in the eastern plains of Nepal.

Please click here for Chisang Clinic flyer.

CMAF assists with the development of clinics to meet the basic medical needs of unserved rural populations in Nepal. CMAF Founder and CEO Carol Vernal met Debendra Karki when she was in Nepal in late 2010. Debendra introduced her to his village, Bhawanee, and a small empty clinic that he had built in 2003. The clinic was operated by a Nepalese NGO for five years, providing primarily OB/GYN services.  Political unrest resulted in the clinic closing, and it has been vacant now for more than three years, waiting for someone to adopt it.

Debendra has a PhD in Public Health, and a post graduate degree in Anthropology from Harvard University. He has worked with the World Health Organization and USAid. He is now dedicated to reopening the Chisang Clinic, and will partner with CMAF to achieve that goal.  As partners we can share our energy and experience to provide medical care for thousands of families in Bhawanee and surrounding villages.