Helping Babies Breath (Neonatal Resuscitation) Nepal

The biggest project that we work on is the semi-annual Helping Babies Breathe. This is a program where LDS Charities brings in a team of medical professionals including doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists. They teach a course on how to administer resuscitation to a new born infant within a minute of birth. Many, if not most, births in Nepal are at home. The at-home births are attended by skilled birthing assistants. No doctor or nurse is present and often a clinic or hospital is not close. The people that we train are then able to provide training to others, like the skilled birthing assistants. The single largest cause of death for a newborn in Nepal is asphyxia or not breathing. Most of these lives can be saved using the simple skills and equipment provided in this training.

The training team arrived on April 6th. We welcomed them with silk scarves which is a Nepali custom.

The first session was held at the National Health Training Center in Kathmandu. There were 43 students from over 20 hospitals and health units. There were eleven training tables and most of the trainers were Nepali. The Americans trained 3 tables.

This is Dr. George Groberg, a pediatrician from Idaho Falls, Idaho. The team was led by Dr. Rob Clark from Salem, Utah. Rob is seen in the background.

This is Bonnie Groberg, a nurse, training a Nepali student.  

This is Dan Woodhead, a respiratory therapist with an extensive background in Neonatal Intensive Care. He would spend 10 days working and training the staff in the NICU at a local hospital. That is in another blog post.

This is Dr. Clark, Scott and the Director of the NHTC presenting certificates of completion.

Each participating institution was presented equipment to do training at their location. Scott, Lear and Dr. Clark are shown presenting equipment to a hospital representative.

One of the doctors at the training was from Sindhupalchowk. We had been to that district in January delivering emergency food and blankets. This doctor told us that her hospital had been destroyed during the earthquake and they were working out of tents and a temporary metal shed. She and three other physicians share a single room for their living quarters. She is from Kathmandu and was glad to be back with family, friends and a hot shower, at least for a few days.

After the two-day training in Kathmandu we flew to Biratnagar in far eastern Nepal. This is a picture of the baggage handling system in the Biratnagar airport.

The next training session was held in Dharan at a health institute. Again we had over 40 students. Most of the trainers came with us from Kathmandu.

The training involved some role playing. Yes, the male Nepali doctor is pretending to be a woman in labor. He asked for more drugs to help with the pain and got a big laugh from everybody.  

Dr. Groberg, Dr. Clark and the vice chancellor of the institute present certificates.

This group of students wanted a picture with Bonnie Groberg and Dr. Clark.

Visiting An Ancient Hindu Temple

We hosted a medical team from the USA. For one of their cultural experiences we went to the Pashupathinath Temple complex. The temple is also called Pashupati by locals. The temple is one of the most sacred Hindu sites in Nepal. The first temple built on this site is believed to have been constructed in 753 AD.

This Hindu priest is sitting in a small shrine. The shrine had the blood of sacrificial sheep in and around. Our guide said that the animals were sacrificed and then the priest conferred a blessing on those worshiping at the temple.

This animal is tied up next the small temple with the priest. It is waiting to be sacrificed.

One of the purposes of Pashupati is to provide funeral services for the Hindu faithful. They can either be cremated outdoors on the banks of the Bagmati river or indoors in a modern facility.  This picture shows a funeral pyre being prepared on the river.

While we were at the temple site a funeral was being conducted. The funeral appeared to be for a high ranking military person. There were a lot of military people present. There were a large number of people both military and civilian.

The two pictures above show sadhu or holy men. Sadhu have left behind all material possessions and live in forests, caves and at temples throughout Nepal and India. The Sadhu is dedicated to achieving moksa which is the fourth and final stage of life through meditation. Our guide told us that only people from India could be holy men. Because they are Indian and not Nepali some people are suspicious of them. These Sadhu did request that we pay an alm of 100 rupies (about a dollar) for taking a picture.  

Near the top of the temple complex hill is a line of small shrines. Our guide said that people come to the shrines seeking prosperity and fertility.

On each of the small shrines is carving of the goddess Manasa or Mansa Devi. She is worshiped for the cure and prevention of snake bite, fertility and prosperity.