PHASE (Practical Help Achieving Self Empowerment) www.phasenepal.org
PHASE Nepal is linked to the UK registered charity PHASE Worldwide. It collaborates with local health authorities throughout Nepal to improve primary healthcare facilities especially in remote mountainous rural communities. As well as equipment and medical supplies, they also provide training to health staff and help with logistics management. Areas of support include family planning, maternity care (deliveries and antenatal/postnatal care), immunizations, growth monitoring, nutrition, minor illnesses, and emergencies.
Having been introduced to their team in 2024, the Overseas Aid Alliance agreed to fund a project to provide much needed medical equipment and support to seven of their remote healthposts including the post at Manbu village in the sparsely populated and isolated northern district of Gorkha. Dr Nick and Claudine visited Manbu in February 2025 (see Spring 2025 update). It has a population of over 5,000 and lies in the shadows of Manaslu and Himalchuli mountains many miles away from any government healthcare facilities. Food poverty is still a problem there, with an average of 23-40% of people living in food poverty. Typhoid, leprosy, burns and dental caries are just some of the other problems affecting local village communities. Families walk for several days to access care. Due to a lack of essential medicines and health awareness, children die from diarrhoea and other treatable illnesses. Malnutrition rates are very high, as are maternal and child mortality rates (childbirth is rarely assisted by a skilled health worker).
Two Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) work at the health post in Manbu where they offer a basic primary healthcare and maternity service. They also run an outreach programme involving door-to-door visits and community/school based health education events.
