Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000039A
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00:19 In this landlocked Himalayan state,
00:21 over half a million women are living in pain. 00:24 I remember one lady, 00:25 she told us that she had been walking around 00:27 with this prolapse hanging out of her body for 50 years. 00:32 In today's episode of Hope In Motion, 00:35 we look at how Asian Aid is supporting 00:37 the healing ministry of the church in Nepal. 00:39 We visit Scheer Memorial Hospital, 00:42 an Adventist mission, 00:43 that's providing healthcare to women 00:45 suffering from uterine prolapse. 00:47 Well, we're pioneering with Scheer Memorial Hospital 00:50 because we truly believe 00:51 they're doing a wonderful job in the community. 00:55 And meet women whose lives have been changed 00:57 because of Asian Aid's involvement in Nepal. 01:13 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 01:16 an organization fostering permanent positive change 01:19 in the lives of disadvantaged children 01:21 and their communities. 01:23 An organization that's committed 01:25 to making a difference in the lives of children 01:27 and those who are in need, 01:29 serving communities in Nepal, 01:31 Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India. 01:43 For the last 40 years 01:45 Asian Aid has invested in the futures of people 01:48 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:52 Driven by their dedication to helping those 01:54 who have the least, 01:56 Asian Aid is an organization 01:58 focused on the welfare of children, 02:00 implementing diverse development projects, 02:03 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:06 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 02:09 to providing education for orphans, 02:12 deaf, and the blind children. 02:14 Giving them a sense of place, a home, 02:17 but above all, 02:18 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 02:21 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:25 giving hope to the ones who need it the most. 02:29 This is Hope In Motion. 02:52 Nepal is renowned for its natural beauty 02:55 and enduring culture, 02:57 having existed as early as its neighbors, 02:59 India and China, 03:00 Nepal has kept its cultural heritage intact 03:03 offering an extraordinary travel experience 03:06 for a visitor. 03:10 With 8 of the 10 highest mountain peaks in the world 03:13 including Mount Everest, 03:15 Nepal's landscape is truly inspiring. 03:18 Nepal is also one of the poorest countries 03:20 in the world 03:21 where one-third of the population 03:23 live below the poverty line earning less than $2 a day. 03:28 Well, most of our work is in India, 03:31 but when we come to Nepal, 03:34 we see a different level of poverty. 03:37 The economy is certainly worse here, 03:39 the level of poverty, the level of pollution, 03:42 there's a huge need 03:43 and we want to do more in Nepal. 03:45 With a majority of Nepalese depending on their daily wages, 03:49 obtaining healthcare is one of the main challenges 03:51 people face in this developing country. 03:54 This is where Scheer Memorial Hospital 03:56 plays a crucial role 03:57 in serving the medical needs of the people of Nepal. 04:04 Scheer Memorial Hospital was established 04:06 over 55 years ago 04:08 by Adventist missionaries serving in Nepal, 04:11 situated just outside Katmandu, 04:13 the hospital is an important institution 04:15 for the community, 04:17 and the Adventist church in Nepal. 04:19 Well, at the beginning, 04:23 after the establishment of the hospital 04:25 is when the church started to expand, 04:27 so Scheer Memorial Hospital is basically 04:30 the birth of the Adventist community in Nepal. 04:34 By now, the church had been growing 04:37 and now we have around 4,000 members 04:41 but the main organization 04:43 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nepal 04:45 is our hospital. 04:48 Although the cost of a doctor's consultation is only 33 cents, 04:52 some cannot even afford that. 04:55 People come from miles around 04:57 from rural villages to hilltop settlements 05:00 seeking medical help. 05:02 The hospital also provide ambulance services 05:04 to emergency cases, 05:06 often traversing through inaccessible 05:07 and dangerous roads. 05:23 Asian Aid's focus has always been about children, 05:26 providing children who are in need with education, 05:29 and giving them an opportunity for a better future 05:32 through its sponsorship program. 05:34 Along with the need to get healthcare and access 05:36 to medical centers, 05:38 the opportunity to get good education 05:40 is highly important to the people of Nepal. 05:42 The main thing is education. 05:45 And because in this part of the world 05:47 if you've got no education, 05:50 your life is really, you know, 05:55 you can't earn hardly anything. 05:56 All you can do is labor, 05:58 and in many places, 06:00 what the labor is paid is almost nothing, 06:03 so I think education just might make 06:06 so much difference in this part of the world, 06:08 more than it does in western countries. 06:12 But in a world where earning $2 a day 06:14 is a struggle for the majority of the people, 06:17 sending their children to school 06:18 is a strain on their finances 06:20 and it remains a distant dream. 06:22 Without sponsorship, 06:24 it would be very difficult for their children 06:25 to receive an education. 06:27 I'm here at the school where Asian Aid USA 06:30 is sponsoring a number of children, 06:33 makes the Scheer Memorial Hospital 06:35 in Katmandu in Nepal. 06:37 We have about 40 children at the school, 06:41 and we want to increase the numbers. 06:44 This school is very important Asian Aid USA 06:47 as we don't have many schools in Nepal of we are involved in, 06:51 and we have chosen this school 06:53 because of its close relationship 06:55 to the Scheer Memorial Hospital but also the need in the area. 07:04 Children from the local community 07:05 and some of the Hospital staff's children 07:07 attend the school. 07:09 Although the church is trying to develop 07:10 more schools in Nepal, 07:12 without sponsorship, 07:13 it would be difficult to attract students 07:15 from the community. 07:54 Suman Pranja is a fourth grade student 07:56 at the school, 07:58 orphaned at a very young age. 07:59 Suman grew up begging in the streets 08:01 in the town close by Scheer Memorial Hospital. 08:04 A local church pastor found him 08:06 and brought him to a small orphanage 08:07 he was running for abandoned children. 08:09 His church member supported his work. 08:11 He provided funding 08:12 for their food and accommodation, 08:14 but he found it difficult to pay their tuition fees. 08:17 Fortunately for Suman, 08:18 the pastor knew people at Scheer Memorial, 08:20 and Suman was enrolled at the school. 08:22 He is now sponsored by Asian Aid USA. 08:28 I'm very happy that Suman could go to the school, 08:31 and he is getting sponsorship. 08:33 And this school at the hospital is a Christian school 08:36 and he could continue to learn about Jesus there. 09:07 My name is Goma Paudyal. 09:09 I teach in playgroup. 09:12 These kids are lovely and I enjoy teaching them. 09:15 This is the best job I enjoy the most 09:17 and I don't even notice when the time pass 09:20 when I'm playing with them and teaching them. 09:22 This is what I enjoy the most here. 09:27 The school provides employment to teachers 09:29 who are from the local community, 09:31 like Goma Paudyal, 09:33 who otherwise would have to travel long distances 09:35 or go to Katmandu to find a good teaching job. 09:39 The school also provides 09:41 one nourishing meal a day for all children 09:43 as part of its incentive program to encourage parents 09:46 to send their children to school. 09:51 Education is highly valued in Nepal, 09:54 as it is in rest of South Asia. 09:56 Parents perceive a good education 09:58 as a catalyst for change. 10:00 This perception is not just for a better future 10:02 for their children, 10:04 but they also believe it will bring changes 10:05 to their own fortunes. 10:08 In these cultures, usually, 10:10 the educated children will care for the parents also 10:12 when they get old 10:14 because if a parent gets to the place 10:16 where they are too sick and too old 10:18 to work in the fields, 10:20 so whatever laboring work they've been doing, 10:22 well, what do you do? 10:24 You basically, beg and starve or, 10:27 you know, depending where you live, 10:29 maybe some beggars, you know, can make a little bit 10:32 but in remote areas, 10:34 especially if they're in a village 10:36 where everybody is poor, 10:37 you know, they're lucky to get anything. 10:39 So I think a lot of parents also think about that, 10:43 that, you know, if my child gets a good education, 10:46 it will also be a blessing to me in my old age. 10:54 My name is Andrew Rapp. 10:56 I'm from Walla Walla University. 10:57 I'm studying business marketing in international business, 11:01 but I took a gap here to come to Nepal and work 11:04 as a volunteer school teacher and youth mentor. 11:08 Colorado native Andrew 11:10 is a volunteer teacher at the school. 11:12 Because of its close association with the hospital, 11:15 the school has been privileged to bring in overseas teachers 11:18 who come here bringing a new approach to teaching. 11:21 This not only exposes the student 11:22 to an international array of teachers, 11:25 but also helps the missionary teachers 11:27 get a different outlook in life. 11:29 I think, for me, 11:31 it is really important 11:32 just to be able to take a break, 11:35 take a step back from my life and school 11:37 and being so focused on what I want to do, 11:40 and take a step back and see what other people need 11:44 that there is more important things than just my concerns. 11:48 There's people that have more immediate needs 11:52 than the fickle things 11:53 that I think might be so important back home. 11:56 No doubt, a good Christian education 11:59 and schools providing that opportunity 12:01 is a beacon of hope for the children here. 12:03 And Asian Aid sponsorship program 12:06 is helping them see that ray of hope 12:07 in this impoverished, yet idyllic region. 12:11 But all is not what it seems. 12:13 Underneath its beauty in the fields and hilltops, 12:16 villages and towns, women are living in pain. 12:19 When we come back, 12:20 we'll look at how over half a million women 12:22 are suffering from uterine prolapse, 12:24 and discover how Asian Aid is helping ease their pain. 12:44 My wife Angela and I are here in Andhra Pradesh, India, 12:47 visiting some of the Asian Aid projects 12:49 to see for ourselves 12:50 how the work that is being done here is transforming lives. 12:54 Especially, the lives of orphaned children 12:57 and abandoned children, 12:58 children from the tribal communities, 13:01 and we've discovered that because of sponsors like you, 13:03 they now have a place that they can call home. 13:06 They have wonderful clothing, nutritious food, 13:08 and they are being prepared to propel themselves 13:11 into the future for a promising career. 13:14 But above all that, because of sponsors like you, 13:17 they now have hope, hope for a better future. 13:34 One of the huge problems 13:35 that's existing in the world today 13:37 is that of human trafficking. 13:40 Of course, it is a global thing 13:42 but because I have worked a lot in India and Nepal, 13:45 I know that it is huge in these countries. 13:48 And the way these children are treated 13:50 is just unbelievable 13:52 and what they suffer, you just could not believe. 13:56 And so with your help and we're so excited 14:00 that Asian Aid has now got the project 14:03 called Operation Child Rescue, 14:05 we can make a difference and do something 14:08 for these children before this happens to them 14:11 and for some of them that can be rescued 14:14 from this situation. 14:16 If you would like to become involved, 14:17 we would just be so very, very grateful. 14:42 Nepal, sandwiched between Asian giants, 14:45 China and India, 14:46 is a landlocked sovereign state in the Himalayas. 14:49 The mountain range in the north 14:51 is home to eight of the world's tallest mountain peaks, 14:54 including the highest point on earth, Mount Everest, 14:57 thus making it popular for mountaineering. 14:59 Hinduism is practiced by over 80% of the population, 15:03 making it the country 15:04 with the highest percentage of Hindus. 15:06 With the birthplace of Buddha located in this region, 15:09 Nepal is also historically linked with Buddhism, 15:12 making it culturally very rich. 15:15 However, Nepal is also economically challenged 15:18 and is home to some of the poorest people 15:20 on the planet. 15:21 And this economically backward environment 15:23 and harsh terrain where infrastructure 15:25 and transport is unavailable, 15:28 women become the beast of burden. 15:38 Economic difficulties and cultural perceptions 15:41 have made women of Nepal suffer silently. 15:44 The condition is called uterine prolapse. 15:49 Yeah, this is something very interesting 15:50 because this condition of uterine prolapse 15:52 is not so common in most of the countries, 15:55 but interestingly, in Nepal, 15:58 it is very common to see uterine prolapse in women. 16:03 We don't know exactly the reason 16:05 but over here, 16:07 the ladies have to carry a lot of weight, 16:10 so weight carrying also provides 16:13 incidence of prolapse more high, 16:17 also having more children, 16:18 also provide more incidents of having this problem, 16:23 so it is multifactorial, 16:25 you cannot point only one thing, 16:29 but what we know is that in Nepal 16:31 it is very common to have this problem. 16:37 Uterine prolapse is a condition in a woman 16:39 where her uterus just falls off her body. 16:42 We learned that one of the main reasons 16:44 women get prolapse 16:45 is because they're forced to carry heavy loads, 16:48 sometimes around 50 kilos, strapped around their forehead, 16:51 pressing down on their neck. 16:54 Often, they have to continue with this heavy labor 16:56 right after childbirth. 16:58 The stress and pressure this puts on their lower back 17:00 is so dangerous, 17:01 and their delicate body cannot support their uterus. 17:12 We cannot go into details of what is the condition, 17:15 but how this condition affects the woman in an extreme way, 17:21 to the extreme that sometimes the husband leaves them 17:26 because of the marital problem that it may have. 17:29 So yes, it is a very 17:32 incapacitating condition for the women 17:34 and the affect is not only on the women 17:36 but also the entire family. 17:39 In this patriarchal society, 17:41 women suffering from prolapse are ashamed of their condition, 17:44 and they don't want to come forward 17:46 and suffer in silence for decades. 17:49 The psychological impact this has on their well-being 17:52 affects their already battered physical condition. 17:54 Thousands go undetected, 17:57 and when they're discovered, 17:58 they become outcast, excluded, 18:00 and deserted by their husbands and families. 18:15 Today, women suffering 18:16 from uterine prolapse have hope. 18:19 Over the last 10 years, 18:20 Asian Aid has funded a program 18:22 along with Scheer Memorial Hospital 18:24 to identify these women 18:26 wherever they are and facilitate surgeries 18:28 and provide much-needed preventative health education. 18:32 Well, we're pioneering with Scheer Memorial Hospital 18:34 because we truly believe 18:36 that doing a wonderful job in the community, 18:39 it's the only Adventist Hospital in Nepal, 18:43 it's a critical part of the church in Nepal. 18:46 And they now have the facilities 18:50 to do the prolapse operations, 18:54 and so our funding program is very valuable to them 18:58 because they have plenty of capacity. 19:01 And so for us, it's very rewarding 19:05 not only to make the change of lives of the women 19:10 but also we're able to help the institution 19:14 in gaining work and doing work in the community. 19:18 Here at the hospital, 19:20 we have done a lot of prolapse operations. 19:23 I think I forget how many years we've been doing it now, 19:26 maybe 10 or 11 years, but during that time, 19:28 we have now operated on between 8,000 to 9,000 ladies. 19:32 And to see the difference it makes, 19:35 you know, I just can't imagine 19:39 how these women like there's been one... 19:41 I remember one lady, 19:42 she told us that she had been walking around 19:44 with this prolapse hanging out of her body for 50 years. 19:49 Well, as a hospital, we can say 19:52 that we are very grateful for Asian Aid 19:54 because they have been providing surgeries 19:57 or support for surgeries for the last two years, 20:00 and we are grateful on behalf of their families 20:03 and the patients that we have been treating, 20:05 thanks to the help of Asian Aid. 20:18 All throughout its history, 20:20 Scheer Memorial Hospital has been privileged 20:22 to host a number of medical professionals from abroad 20:25 who volunteer their time and expertise conducting camps. 20:29 This has benefited thousands of people 20:31 from the local community, especially women. 20:34 This week a group from Sydney Adventist Hospital 20:37 from Sydney, Australia 20:39 is here conducting prolapse operations. 20:41 If you say to these women, have it fixed, 20:44 not have that prolapse anymore, they're so happy. 20:47 They hug us, they kiss us, 20:49 they want to shake your hand, they want to touch us. 20:52 And it's just humbling, very humbling 20:56 because we're so grateful, 20:58 you know, westernized society 21:00 that you just don't realize that how hard it is for me 21:04 to be working under the circumstances 21:07 that we got to work under. 21:10 Karen is part of a volunteer group, 21:11 Open Heart International from Sydney. 21:14 These are medical professionals 21:16 that go to various developing countries, 21:17 each year, conducting medical camps. 21:20 For Karen and her team, 21:21 camps such as these may seem just another day's work, 21:24 but it has a profound impact on these women 21:27 who suffer from prolapse. 21:28 And for the volunteers, it's an opportunity 21:31 to make a difference in their own humble ways. 21:34 Volunteering to me, it's emotional. 21:38 You will get very drawn into 21:40 what they don't have and what we can do to them. 21:43 We might think we're just doing what we do everyday 21:45 back at home, 21:47 but for them, it's life changing. 21:49 And even though it might seem just a drop in the ocean, 21:55 for 80 to 90 women, 21:57 in the 10 days that we're here operating, 21:59 it changes their lives, and that change of life 22:03 for these people makes it emotional. 22:07 Scheer Memorial Hospital is overwhelmed 22:09 with the inflow of women 22:11 needing surgeries for uterine prolapse. 22:13 Without these volunteers, 22:14 it will be a tough task to facilitate them all. 22:18 In the hospital, we have 200 to 300 surgeries 22:20 will be there in the year. 22:22 Out of 200 to 300, 22:23 we have 30% to 40 % of surgeries 22:27 will be done for uterine prolapse. 22:29 The only thing that is stopping us 22:32 to doing more 22:33 it is basically the financial aspect. 22:35 If we have more funding, we can do more. 22:39 Right now, we do have some funding from organization 22:42 that they come and do the surgery themselves, 22:45 but how many we can do, 22:46 it is basically, 300, 400, it's countless 22:52 because the incidence is extremely high. 22:59 Over half a million women are suffering 23:01 from prolapse in Nepal, 23:02 and Scheer Memorial Hospital is a place they can come 23:05 to get it fixed and ease their suffering. 23:08 It's so apt to say that Scheer Memorial Hospital 23:11 is truly a beacon on the hilltop. 23:14 To have an institution 23:16 and for Asian Aid to provide the opportunity to these ladies 23:21 who don't have to live with this, 23:23 this is curable, this is fixable. 23:27 You know, that's the benefit. 23:28 Imagine when a lady has the operation, 23:31 she goes back, 23:32 she is now accepted into the home. 23:36 She can mend relationships. 23:38 She can add value to the family. 23:41 She can add value to the community 23:42 through the other ladies, spread the good news, 23:46 tell them about how people love them 23:48 and want to make things different for them. 23:51 Isn't that a blessing? 23:55 The good news is spreading among women in Nepal. 23:58 The more women are identified, educated, 24:00 and brought to these camps, 24:02 the more women are willing to come out 24:03 and seek medical care. 24:05 This one here, her name is Puneswari, 24:08 and she actually has... 24:10 Because she has been so grateful 24:12 for what's happened in her life, 24:14 she has now brought 25 more ladies 24:17 who have had operations. 24:19 And I think that's really special. 24:21 And so they just... 24:22 When we told them we were having a filming today, 24:25 they were just so thrilled to think 24:26 that they could come inside 24:28 how grateful they are for the transformation 24:30 that's happened in their lives. 24:32 How do you think this operation has changed their lives? 24:35 Well, it's changed their lives, 24:36 and now they can walk comfortably, 24:38 they're able to work and help 24:40 and care for their families, it's just, 24:43 it's a totally transforming thing 24:46 that I think we just wouldn't understand 24:49 unless we had actually been through 24:50 the same experiences they have been. 24:53 And for this lady to bring 25, 24:54 I think that's really something 24:56 because that shows how grateful she is 24:59 for the operation that she has had. 25:07 Today, Adventist missions like Scheer Memorial Hospital, 25:10 organizations like Asian Aid, 25:12 and the goodwill of hundreds of volunteers and missionaries 25:15 is making a difference 25:17 and bringing a healing touch to women in Nepal 25:20 transforming their lives every single day. 25:23 Together it is possible 25:24 to facilitate this transformation 25:26 for these grateful women. 25:28 It is possible to put smiles back on their faces. 25:31 Just to hear them say, "Thank you." 25:40 They are a nation, 25:42 they are so loving and thankful. 25:45 And if I can just help a little bit, 25:47 I'll keep coming back. |
Revised 2018-01-03