We support communities to improve their health status, improve access to health services and alleviate poverty.
Work with local organisations to help communities to:
- Improve health knowledge
- Avoid risk of illness, both infectious disease and lifestyle conditions
- Gain better services from health organisations
- Develop skills and expertise which increase family income
Assist the Nepal Tuberculosis Programme to eradicate infectious TB
- TB casefinding
- Training in the diagnosis and treatment of TB
- Ensure quality control of TB laboratories
- Awareness of HIV/AIDS
- Conduct surveys and research
What improvements in health does the Trust achieve?
BNMT adopted the “Rights Based Approach” in the late 1990’s as part of the implementation of its Health Improvement Programme. The Rights Based Approach is about encouraging people to think about their own health needs, empowering them to ask for what they need and helping them get it.
This collection of stories illustrates how individuals, families and vulnerable groups are supported by BNMT to discover their own progress to better health.
Way to DOTS
Dil Bahadur Rai, 50, lives in Ithari Municipality-2 (Budhasubba chowk) in Sunsari district, E Nepal. He lives with his wife in a house built from mud and bamboo. He collects firewood for a living from the nearby forest and sells it at the local market. He walks more than ten kilometres a day. Together with his wife they earn 5,000 to 7,000 rupees a month and are barely able to cover their cost of living.
Recently Dil Bahadur Rai was visited at home by a volunteer from the TB Reach Project (TBRP). He had been contact with a member of his family who had been diagnosed with active, pulmonary TB. Whilst this relative had been visiting the Directly Observed Treatment (DOTS) centre Dil Bahadur Rai had been listed as a close smyptomatic contact.
Dil Bahadur Rai disclosed the symptoms of TB he had been suffering to the TBRP volunteer. He was counselled and educated about TB; its symptoms, risks, treatment and the availability of free services from the nearest health institution.
“I had been suffering from a persistent and prolonged cough, having chest pain and sometimes fever. Due to this I am facing difficulty doing any labour.”
On the basis of this information the volunteer urged him to provide a sputum sample, leaving sputum pots with him for two further samples. The sputum samples were taken by the volunteers to the nearest microscopy centre for processing. The sputum result was positive.
When Dil Bhadur Rai was advised that his sputum samples had tested positve for TB he was shocked;
“I was depressed and thought ‘How did I end up with this disease?’. The project staff and volunteers together provided detailed information that TB is curable if the treatment is done on a regular basis in the DOTS centre, and that is free of cost. My depression improved.”
Dil Bahadur Rai was immediately enrolled for treatment at the nearby Ithari PHC and taking medicine from the Urban DOTS Sub Centre at Ithari-3.
“I can move and start to do my work thanks to the treatment and your help.”
Dil Bahadur Rai has also expressed his commitment to encouraging others in his community to seek TB testing and treatment.
Early Diagnosis Could Save Lives
Rajnisha Sada is the 8 year old son of Mr Raj Deve Sada and Tetari Devi Sada and lives in Ram Gopalpur-3, Mahottari.
He had a 30 day history of cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss. His parents took him to Bairginiya to see a doctor. He was given a diagnosis of Typhoid. Despite Rajnisha’s parents ensuring his compliance with the prescribed treatment his condition did not improve.
His parents took him to two other doctors and again he was treated with antibiotics but did not improve. At this point his family had already spent 3,000 rupees on treatment.
On the way to the 4th health institution and desperate for help they received advice from a female community health volunteer from Ramgopalpur Village Development Committee (VDC) who was working as part of the TB Reach Project implemented by BNMT and Regional Director (RD).
During discussion between his parents and the volunteer a close contact with TB (Rajnisha’s grandfather) was revealed. The volunteer counselled them on the signs, symptoms and transmission of TB as well as the treatment process and free governmental services available.
Rajnisha’s sputum was collected and transported for microscopy and contact tracing was set in motion. His sputum tested positive for TB. He was immediately enrolled into a local treatment programme and started medication. His close family have also all been tested.
TB strikes twice
Krishna Bahadur BK is 36 and from the Bharatpur municipality. He has 2 children; a 9 year old daughter and an 11 year old son. He is currently living with his daughter. Unfortunately his wife left him a year ago and is now remarried. During this difficult year he has been suffering from a cough, fever, loss of appetite and gradual weigh loss. He had thought these symptoms were related to the breakdown of his marriage.
Seeing his condition his neighbour suggested he go to hospital for a check-up. The doctor immediately suspected TB and referred him for sputum microscopy. He gave three sputum samples which confirmed he had active pulmonary TB. The doctor recommended a 6 month course of treatment and referred him to the National Tuberculosis Programme. Krishna completed the treatment and following a final sputum test was declared cured.
Six months after being cured and Krishna began to suffer once again with a cough, chest pain and loss of appetite. However, thinking that TB could not recur once treated he did not seek medical help.
A few weeks later a TB Reach project volunteer visited his home to identify close contacts for TB screening. They listened to his story and were concerned at the recurrence of symptoms. They asked him to provide 3 sputum samples over the next few days and took the 1st spot specimen.
Once again he tested positive for TB. He was counselled and referred to the nearest urban DOTS centre (Aaptandi) for treatment. Krishna is now taking regular CAT II treatment. He is recovering and has been able to return to work.
For more details click below link:
http://bnmtnepal.org.np/rights-based-approach