Andrea Ward Volunteer Nursing Trip
Donation protected
My name is Andrea and I am Second year Nursing student at Bournemouth University. As part of my training I have an opportunity to work Overseas for 6 weeks. My chosen destination is Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, where 40% of the population live in poverty, and over 30% of Nepalese live on less than £9.22 a month. The poor in Nepal include: destitute people, such as sick, disabled, displaced and abandoned children. Such children are often forced to work as domestic servants, circus entertainers, factory workers, or trafficked with the country for commercial sexual expolitation, or forced marriage.
80% of Nepal's people live in rural areas where poor nutrition are major concerns and almost half of the children under 5 are undernourised. Most households have no access to safe drinking water, health care, sanitation, or other basic services. Also, poor families are often obliged to send their children to work, rather than school, perpetrating the cycle of poverty. About 1/4 of Nepalese children are engaged in family or wage labour and Girls from disadvantaged backgrounds suffer gender discrimination. Such as, not encouraged to have an opinion, denied education, and only allowed to eat when the men in the family have satisfied their appetite. Almost 25% of the women have a BMI below normal, the prevalence of amemia among pregnant women is approx 36%. This leads to low birth weight babies, which in turn leads to disabled or malnourished children, and the possibility they could be abandoned by their family. Sadly, in some areas the social attitude towards disability is negativity, the belief being that disability is contagious so interaction with the person or their family is discouraged.
After years of political instability Nepal's current health policies are in turmoil, which sadly leaves hundreds of thousands Nepalese not being able to access or afford healthcare. For those who can afford the healthcare provision ....Let's put it this way, it makes our basic provision look 5*! All aspects of their health-care system is under-funded and under-staffed. It is unable to change epidemological patterns, struggles to manage communicable diseases, and maternal and child health. Hence relies heavily on volunteres, and the funding / education they bring. Especially when natural disasters (like earthquakes) occur, as they are ill-equiped to deal with disaster related fatalities.
Writing this makes me feel quite emotional, I know I will be a small fish in big pond, but it is something I feel passionate about. So I really do need your help to make this happen. I know that the company I am going with (Work The World) are not a charity, but they do give financial aid. Such as providing clinics in rural areas, buying equipment and sundries that otherwise they would not be able to afford. So your money is going to a good cause.
In addition, having already gained some experience in various settings here in the UK, I would now like to gain more knowledge about alternative approaches to health. Whilst at the same time building my professional confidence - by working in challenging settings and impart some of my knowledge to help make a difference in a developing towns or villages. Which in turn, will help prepare me for working with a diverse culture here in the UK. As well as, giving me invaluable experience for future voluntary work overseas.
To enable this to happen I need to raise £3000. So I am asking for friends, family, the dog, anyone, to kindly help me acheive this goal.
80% of Nepal's people live in rural areas where poor nutrition are major concerns and almost half of the children under 5 are undernourised. Most households have no access to safe drinking water, health care, sanitation, or other basic services. Also, poor families are often obliged to send their children to work, rather than school, perpetrating the cycle of poverty. About 1/4 of Nepalese children are engaged in family or wage labour and Girls from disadvantaged backgrounds suffer gender discrimination. Such as, not encouraged to have an opinion, denied education, and only allowed to eat when the men in the family have satisfied their appetite. Almost 25% of the women have a BMI below normal, the prevalence of amemia among pregnant women is approx 36%. This leads to low birth weight babies, which in turn leads to disabled or malnourished children, and the possibility they could be abandoned by their family. Sadly, in some areas the social attitude towards disability is negativity, the belief being that disability is contagious so interaction with the person or their family is discouraged.
After years of political instability Nepal's current health policies are in turmoil, which sadly leaves hundreds of thousands Nepalese not being able to access or afford healthcare. For those who can afford the healthcare provision ....Let's put it this way, it makes our basic provision look 5*! All aspects of their health-care system is under-funded and under-staffed. It is unable to change epidemological patterns, struggles to manage communicable diseases, and maternal and child health. Hence relies heavily on volunteres, and the funding / education they bring. Especially when natural disasters (like earthquakes) occur, as they are ill-equiped to deal with disaster related fatalities.
Writing this makes me feel quite emotional, I know I will be a small fish in big pond, but it is something I feel passionate about. So I really do need your help to make this happen. I know that the company I am going with (Work The World) are not a charity, but they do give financial aid. Such as providing clinics in rural areas, buying equipment and sundries that otherwise they would not be able to afford. So your money is going to a good cause.
In addition, having already gained some experience in various settings here in the UK, I would now like to gain more knowledge about alternative approaches to health. Whilst at the same time building my professional confidence - by working in challenging settings and impart some of my knowledge to help make a difference in a developing towns or villages. Which in turn, will help prepare me for working with a diverse culture here in the UK. As well as, giving me invaluable experience for future voluntary work overseas.
To enable this to happen I need to raise £3000. So I am asking for friends, family, the dog, anyone, to kindly help me acheive this goal.
Organizer
Andrea Ward
Organizer