The Children's Medical Aid Foundation

Our Vision
Children's Medical Aid Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children in Nepal by providing surgical correction of congenital defects. We help children born with handicaps and disfigurement avoid the stigma, shame and embarrassment that keep them isolated from school and community. Surgery offers these children with functional and aesthetic benefits, instantly transforming their future for a normal childhood and better life.

Who Do We Help ?
Many children in remote villages do not receive medical treatment due to geographical constraints, poverty, lack of medical supplies or absence of trained personnel. The foundation provides corrective surgery and therapy for indigent Nepalese with congenital defects such as syndactalism (webbed fingers), disfiguring moles and hypospadius (male genito-urinary problem). All those in need receive our services regardless of caste, religion, or political beliefs.

How Do We Help ?
CMAF solicits and collect medical supplies from donated sources, hospitals, clinics and manufacturers. They are transported to Model Hospital by volunteer couriers. We provide funds to support Kathmandu Model Hospital and the Plastic Surgery department that hosts our program.

In 2009 we will increase our services to provide educational opportunities for older children who need to be brought up to grade level to join their peers and initiate a program to build a 50 bed hospital in Itahari, Nepal.

Two out of one hundred Nepalese children are born with a congenital abnormality (birth defect) that is easily detectable at birth. Abnormalities of the face and extremities are especially severe to the children and their families. Many of these children are kept hidden due to shame, guilt, superstitions or spiritual beliefs which are factors that keep disfigured children isolated from school and community life. The surgical outreach team locate these children, educate families and communities to dispel the fears and beliefs related to the cause and inform them of free corrective surgery. 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 are also candidates for free corrective surgery

The average cost of a each operation is $200. This covers transportation, food, lodging, surgery, anesthetic, recovery room, post op visits, dressing changes, all supplies, equipment needed and physical therapy sessions. Just think for $200 you can be personally responsible for changing a child's 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

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 and Model Hospital, a non-profit hospital in Kathmandu, have designed a program to sponsor and promote the care of children born with congenital deformities.

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.

Children's Medical Aid Foundation
Tel: 707-938-1807 Fax: 707-996-4074 Cell: 415-302-2178
E-Mail: childmedaid@gmail.com