Telemedicine Training and Char Bhanjyang Centre for Health Visit Report 20th March 2022
by Dr Roshani Lama, Doctor in Charge – Deuralia PHC, Nuwakot, Nepal
Objective:
To visit Char Bhanjyang Centre for Health and get training on how to use Swinfen Telemedicine services.
On 20th March we (Dr. Roshani Lama from Deurali PHC, Nuwakot; Min Bahadur Tamang from Kaule Health post, Nuwakot; Sister Sunita Tamang from Semjong Health post, Dhading; Sister Sita Tamang from Lapa health post, Dhading) reached Char Bhanjyang Centre for Health Khalte. We were warmly welcomed by Mr Roshan Gurung at Swinfen House, Khalte and by his team at Char Bhanjyang Homestay. After a delicious lunch of organic food, we started our visit of Char Bhanjyang Health Centre for Health.
The clinic is surrounded by four beautiful summits. It provides services to all patients free of charge with free medicine. All the patients we met were happy and satisfied with the health services provided. Thus, this project is "A magnificent project".
Char Bhanjyang Health Centre for Health was built with the help of donations from the Swinfen Charitable Trust. It was inaugurated on 3rd April 2013 by Rt. Hon Lord Roger Swinfen MBE and Lady Patricia Swinfen MBE.
This Health Centre is well managed by Char Bhanjyang Tamu Samaj with some assistance by the local government. We learned how to operate the Swinfen Telemedicine link and how to be connected via email, mobile and Skype ID.
We saw how Sister Prarthana Pun uses the telemedicine service and treats her patients accordingly, and how she arranged patient data systematically in the files and recording system. We met patients from many other districts including Pokhara city. Many undiagnosed cases have been diagnosed via telemedicine. We were able to look at the x-ray machine; a small laboratory used for investigations and a well managed system for medicine dispatch. We had a really useful visit to the Centre. We totally loved the warm hospitality of Char Bhanjyang Tamu Samaj; the homestay and Aama group.
Things we learned from THE CHAR BHANJYANG TAMU SAMAJ; CHAR BHANJYANG CENTRE FOR HEALTH and THE SWINFEN CHARITABLE TRUST-UK:
1) Implement Swinfen Telemedicine services in our remote areas efficiently and effectively to serve our patients.
2) Manage our village areas like the home stay which is used in Khalte, Parbat to promote tourism.
3) Develop the habit of warm hospitality to visiting guests and tourists.
4) Develop the motto of "together we can" & "together we can uplift our own society" by small acts of charity and small steps.
Advantages of Telemedicine services:
1) Expert Physician and surgeon’s consultation free of charge.
2) Save travelling time to visit and consult Doctors.
3) No need to waste time standing in long queues.
4) It will help us as health care workers for further consultations as well.
5) We will be able to learn a lot regarding new technology, guidelines, protocols and management of any diseases.
6) It will develop communication skills of patients and health care workers as well.
Disadvantages of Telemedicine services:
1) Physician Consultations take time since it has to be done via email.
2) Language barrier
3) More Investigations that will be required during physician consultations which won't be available in most of the settings of our health facilities.
4) Most of the Medicine that will be prescribed to patients may not be available in our health facilities so patients are obliged to visit developed cities from our remote villages.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Telemedicine service is an excellent service which is helping to serve patients residing in remote areas. Even healthcare workers will be able to learn a lot regarding new technology, guidelines, protocols, and management of any diseases. We hope to continue these services and serve our patients in remote areas.
Thank you so much THE SWINFEN CHARITABLE TRUST-UK,
THE CHAR BHANJYANG TAMU SAMAJ TEAM.
THE CHAR BHANJYANG CENTRE FOR HEALTH TEAM.
THE DHADING-NUWAKOT SAMAJ-UK TEAM.
Photos kindly provided by Dr. Roshani Lama