With a Building, You Restore Hope: Updates from Anandaban Hospital
Sep 13, 2021
Six years ago, you responded with compassion and generosity to the 2015 earthquake that devastated Nepal and left millions of people in crisis, including thousands affected by leprosy. Two years ago, you joined us to help one of our partners, Anandaban Hospital, rebuild its facilities after the earthquake destroyed important infrastructure.
Now, your gifts are bearing fruit!
Thanks to your support and grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program, the new building for Anandaban is on its way to completion. This building will restore Anandaban’s full capacity to serve thousands of people affected by leprosy, pregnant women and new mothers, and people who need surgeries and emergency care.
Earthquake Leaves Far-Reaching Devastation
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and more than 150,000 people are affected by leprosy. There are very few hospitals, especially in rural areas. Anandaban is the only hospital in its region. Thousands of people come through its welcoming doors every year to receive quality medical and surgical care. But in 2015, the earthquake damaged Anandaban’s 50-year-old ICU, severely limiting their ability to offer quality care. Your support has been critical to restoring these services!
Your gifts are creating a new building to house emergency services, surgery theaters, and a maternity ward.
Reduced Care Puts Patients at Risk
Hansa was diagnosed with leprosy 17 years ago. He received the cure, but his troubles weren’t over: due to a spinal disorder, he’s often bedridden. These health challenges make even normal life difficult, but a septic infection last winter was a change for the worse. Anandaban is Hansa’s closest hospital. However, when he arrived, he discovered that he needed ICU treatment. Anadaban wanted to help, but their services were limited by the earthquake damage. Sadly, Dr. Pradip, Anandaban’s medical superintendent, has seen many cases like Hansa’s since the 2015 earthquake. “People in surrounding communities often have to visit other hospitals that are far away, with long waiting lists, for surgery and ICU care. Sometimes they have no one to take them to other hospitals.”
Hansa needs prompt and accessible care, but the earthquake took it away from him. YOU are restoring that care by helping Anandaban rebuild!
You Are Restoring Hope
Thanks to your faithful support, the new construction will restore Anandaban’s ICU and their ability to provide high-quality surgery services so they can once again treat patients like Hansa. Two multi-year grants from USAID ASHA—totaling over $1 million—have made it possible not only to restore Anandaban’s ICU but also to supply new surgical equipment, air conditioning units, X-ray machines and more. You have been faithful to respond to the desperate needs of the people of Nepal. Thank you! You are helping to build a spacious, earthquake-safe and disability-friendly hospital for thousands of underserved people to receive care and the love of Christ. Thank you for your commitment to spread dignity and hope to those suffering from leprosy and related diseases around the world!
Dr. Pradip is ready for the new ICU so Anandaban can provide full services to its community.
Our Partners
The current upgrades at Anandaban Hospital are made possible by you, our faithful donors, USAID ASHA, The Leprosy Mission International and The Leprosy Mission Nepal.
About USAID ASHA
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program aims to increase the ability of overseas schools, libraries and hospitals to demonstrate U.S. advancements in education and medical technology. These institutions then contribute to the strengthening of mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries while creating a foundation for leadership development.