Project HOPE Stands with Nepal on Quake Anniversary
Project HOPE says it is standing by Nepal on the first anniversary of the earthquake to improve access to health services for communities in need.
Millwood, Va., April 25, 2016
Project HOPE, a global health education and humanitarian assistance organization, says it is standing by Nepal on the first anniversary of the earthquake to improve access to health services for communities in need.
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake on April 24th last year killed more than 8,000 people and injured over 21,000, while a major aftershock on May 12th claimed 200 lives and injured over 2,500. The country’s health infrastructure was devastated.
Project HOPE medical volunteers provided emergency medical care to over 1,500 of patients injured in the quakes and the NGO shipped USD $15.8 million of urgently needed medicines and supplies to Nepal, which benefitted 231,976 patients.
“The country was in absolute shock for many months following the disaster and the health system was especially hard hit. So, HOPE initiated a long-term program last year to improve the health of women and children impacted by the earthquakes and provide better access to health services,” said Laxmikant Palo, M.D., Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Project HOPE.
In partnership with Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and the local NGO, Nepal Public Health Foundation (NPHF), Project HOPE implemented a need assessment exercise to understand the situation better for appropriate response through a long term public health program.
In January 2016, Project HOPE and Center for Disaster Philanthropy in collaboration with NPHF and MoHP has launched a project to improve maternal and child health nutrition and hygiene practices in Makawanpur district of Nepal.
“Our focus is to help communities develop healthy nutritional and hygiene habits in Makawanpur, a district that was hard hit by the quakes last year. There’s also a great need for neonatal and child health services and it’s crucial that we strengthen the capacity of health care providers, especially in humanitarian assistance, trauma injury, psychosocial support and preparing for future disasters,” said Dr. Palo.
Project HOPE has a long history of responding to disasters, including major earthquakes in Haiti, Japan, Indonesia, China and Armenia. In Nepal, HOPE has a history of humanitarian work in remote areas during the U.S. Air Force humanitarian mission Pacific Angel (PACANGEL) in 2012.
About Project HOPE
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solution to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, and conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 30 countries. Visit our website projecthope.org and follow us on Twitter @projecthopeorg.
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