Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000105A
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00:10 Our television series,
00:12 Hope In Motion has been a big success. 00:15 And we want to continue to share with you 00:17 some of the field stories 00:19 that we have filmed over the years. 00:21 So just from time to time, it may refer to Asian Aid, 00:26 as we reflect on these great stories 00:29 as we share them with you. 00:39 In this landlocked Himalayan state, 00:41 over half a million women are living in pain. 00:44 I remember one lady, she told us that 00:46 she had been walking around with this prolapse 00:49 hanging out of her body for 50 years. 00:52 In today's episode of Hope In Motion, 00:54 we look at how Child Impact International 00:57 is supporting the healing ministry 00:58 of the church in Nepal. 01:00 We visit Scheer Memorial Hospital, 01:02 an Adventist mission, 01:03 that is providing healthcare to women 01:05 suffering from uterine prolapse. 01:07 Well, we're pioneering with Scheer Memorial Hospital 01:10 because we truly believe 01:12 they're doing a wonderful job in the community. 01:15 And meet women whose lives have been changed 01:18 because of Child Impact's involvement in Nepal. 01:36 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope, 01:40 previously called Asian Aid. 01:42 Child Impact International 01:43 is an organization fostering permanent positive change 01:47 in the lives of disadvantaged children 01:49 and their communities. 01:51 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 01:53 in the lives of children and those who are in need. 01:56 Serving communities in India, 01:58 Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 02:01 and will soon expand to other countries. 02:03 For the last 50 years, 02:05 Child Impact has invested in the futures of people 02:08 and their investment is proving infinite returns, 02:11 driven by the dedication to helping those 02:13 who have the least. 02:14 Child Impact is an organization 02:16 focused on the welfare of children, 02:19 implementing diverse development projects 02:21 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:23 Their outreach expands from child rescue operations, 02:26 to providing an education 02:28 for orphans, deaf, and the blind children 02:31 giving them a sense of place, a home, 02:33 but above all, 02:35 Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 02:37 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:41 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 02:43 This is Hope in Motion. 03:01 Nepal is renowned 03:02 for its natural beauty and enduring culture. 03:05 Having existed as early as its neighbors India and China, 03:09 Nepal has kept its cultural heritage intact, 03:12 offering an extraordinary travel experience 03:14 for a visitor. 03:19 With 8 of the 10 highest mountain peaks in the world 03:22 including Mount Everest, 03:23 Nepal's landscape is truly inspiring. 03:26 Nepal is also one of the poorest countries in the world 03:29 where one-third of the population 03:31 live below the poverty line earning less than $2 a day. 03:36 Well, most of our work is in India. 03:40 But when we come to Nepal, 03:42 we see a different level of poverty. 03:45 The economy is certainly worse here, 03:47 the level of poverty, the level of pollution. 03:50 There is a huge need 03:52 and we want to do more in Nepal. 03:54 With a majority of Nepalese depending on their daily wages, 03:57 obtaining healthcare is one of the main challenges 04:00 people face in this developing country. 04:03 This is where Scheer Memorial Hospital 04:05 plays a crucial role in serving the medical needs 04:07 of the people of Nepal. 04:12 Scheer Memorial Hospital was established 04:14 over 55 years ago 04:16 by Adventist missionaries serving in Nepal. 04:19 Situated just outside Katmandu, 04:21 the hospital is an important institution 04:24 for the community 04:25 and the Adventist church in Nepal. 04:27 Well, at the beginning of hospital, 04:32 after the establishment of hospital 04:33 is when the church has started to expand. 04:36 So Scheer Memorial Hospital is basically the birth of 04:39 the Adventist community in Nepal. 04:43 By now the church have been growing. 04:46 Now we have over around 4,000 members. 04:50 But the main organization 04:52 or the center of Adventist church 04:53 in Nepal is our hospital. 04:57 Although the cost of a doctor's consultation 04:59 is only $0.33, some cannot even afford that. 05:03 People come from miles around 05:05 from rural villages to hilltop settlements 05:08 seeking medical health. 05:09 The hospital also provides ambulance services 05:12 to emergency cases, 05:13 often traversing through inaccessible 05:16 and dangerous roads. 05:32 Child Impact International's focus 05:34 has always been about children. 05:36 Providing children 05:37 who are in need with an education 05:39 and giving them an opportunity for a better future 05:41 through its sponsorship program. 05:43 Along with a need to get healthcare 05:45 and access to medical centers, 05:47 the opportunity to get good education 05:49 is highly important to the people of Nepal. 05:51 The main thing is education. 05:54 And because in this part of the world 05:55 if you've got no education, your life is really, 06:01 you know, you can't earn hardly anything. 06:05 All you can do is labor. 06:07 And in many places 06:08 what the labors are paid is almost nothing. 06:11 So I think education 06:13 just makes so much difference in this part of the world, 06:17 more than it does in western countries. 06:20 But in a world where earning $2 a day 06:23 is a struggle for the majority of the people. 06:25 Sending their children to school 06:27 is a strain on their finances and it remains a distant dream. 06:31 Without sponsorship, 06:32 it would be very difficult for their children 06:34 to receive an education. 06:36 I am here at the school where Asian Aid USA 06:39 is sponsoring a number of children 06:41 next to Scheer Memorial Hospital 06:44 in Katmandu in Nepal. 06:46 We have about 40 children at this school, 06:50 and we want to increase the numbers. 06:52 This school is very important Asian Aid USA 06:55 as we don't have many schools in Nepal 06:58 that we are involved in. 07:00 And we have chosen this school 07:01 because of its close relationship 07:04 to the Scheer Memorial Hospital but also the need in the area. 07:12 Children from the local community 07:14 and some of the hospital staff's children 07:16 attend the school. 07:17 Although the church is trying 07:19 to develop more schools in Nepal, 07:21 without sponsorship it would be difficult 07:23 to attract students from the community. 08:03 Suman Praja 08:04 is a fourth grade student at the school, 08:06 orphaned at a very young age. 08:08 Suman grew up begging in the streets 08:10 in the town close to Scheer Memorial Hospital. 08:13 A local church pastor found him 08:15 and brought him to a small orphanage 08:17 he was running for abandoned children. 08:19 His church members supported his work 08:21 and provided funding 08:23 for their food and accommodations. 08:24 But he found it difficult to pay their tuition fees. 08:28 Fortunately for Suman, 08:29 the pastor knew people at Scheer Memorial, 08:31 and Suman was enrolled at the school. 08:36 I am very happy that Suman could go to the school, 08:40 and he's getting sponsorship. 08:42 And this school at the hospital is a Christian school, 08:45 and he could continue to learn about Jesus there. 09:16 My name is Goma Paudyal. I teach in playgroup. 09:20 These kids are lovely, and I enjoy teaching them. 09:24 This is the best job I enjoy the most, 09:26 and I don't even notice when the time pass 09:28 when I'm playing with them and teaching them. 09:31 This is what I enjoy the most here. 09:36 The school provides employment to teachers 09:38 who are from the local community. 09:40 Like Goma Paudyal, 09:41 who otherwise would have to travel long distances 09:44 or go to Katmandu to find a good teaching job. 09:47 The school also provides 09:49 one nourishing meal a day for all the children 09:51 as part of its incentive program 09:53 to encourage parents to send their children to school. 10:00 Education is highly valued in Nepal 10:02 as it is the rest of South Asia. 10:04 Parents perceive a good education 10:06 as a catalyst for change. 10:08 This perception is not just 10:10 for a better future for their children, 10:12 but they also believe it will bring changes 10:14 to their own fortunes. 10:16 In these cultures, usually the educated children 10:19 will care for the parents also when they get old 10:22 because if a parent gets to the place 10:24 where they are too sick 10:26 and too old to work in the fields 10:28 or whatever laboring work they've been doing. 10:31 Well, what do you do, 10:32 you basically beg, and starve or, 10:36 you know, depending where you live, 10:38 maybe some beggars, 10:39 you know, can make a little bit. 10:41 But in remote areas 10:43 especially if they're in a village, 10:44 where everybody's poor, 10:46 you know, they are lucky to get anything. 10:48 So I think a lot of parents also think about that that, 10:52 you know, if my child gets a good education, 10:54 it'll also be a blessing to me in my old age. 11:03 My name is Andrew Rapp. 11:04 I'm from Walla Walla University. 11:06 I'm studying business marketing and international business. 11:10 But I took a gap year to come to Nepal 11:12 and work as a volunteer school teacher 11:15 and youth mentor. 11:17 Colorado native Andrew 11:18 is a volunteer teacher at the school 11:21 because of its close association 11:22 with the hospital, 11:24 the school has been privileged to bring in overseas teachers 11:27 who come here bringing a new approach to teaching. 11:29 This not only exposes the students 11:31 to an international array of teachers 11:33 but also helps the missionary teachers 11:35 get a different outlook in life. 11:38 I think for me, 11:39 it was really important just to be able 11:41 to take a break, 11:43 take a step back from my life in school 11:46 and being so focused on what I want to do. 11:48 And take a step back and see what other people need, 11:53 that there's more important things than just my concerns. 11:56 There's people that have more immediate needs 12:00 than the fickle things that 12:01 I think might be so important back home. 12:05 No doubt, a good Christian education in schools 12:08 providing that opportunity 12:09 is a beacon of hope for the children here. 12:12 And Child Impact sponsorship program 12:14 is helping them see that ray of hope 12:16 in this impoverished yet idyllic region. 12:19 But all is not what it seems, underneath its beauty, 12:22 in the fields and hilltops, villages and towns, 12:25 women are living in pain. 12:27 When we come back, we look at how over half a million women 12:30 are suffering from uterine prolapse, 12:32 and discover how Child Impact International 12:35 is helping ease their pain. 12:44 A couple of years ago my daughters and I 12:46 had a wonderful opportunity to travel to India. 12:49 And while we were there, 12:51 we met yet another part of our family 12:53 that's our sponsor daughter Sheila. 12:55 We've had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 12:57 through Child Impact International 12:59 for more than three years now. 13:01 And, you know, while we were there, 13:03 she shared with us 13:04 that her dream was to become a nurse. 13:08 Now, it's a wonderful privilege for us as a family 13:11 to know that she is fulfilling that dream. 13:14 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 13:17 She's in college, 13:18 and we could not be happier for her. 13:21 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 13:24 And, you know, sponsoring a child 13:26 through Child Impact, 13:27 it's made an incredible difference for our family. 13:30 And I know that for you sponsoring a child 13:33 can make a difference for you too. 13:35 But most importantly, 13:36 it can make the difference 13:38 in the life of a child every day. 13:49 At Adventist mission schools like this one in Bangladesh, 13:53 Child Impact International sponsors hundreds of children. 13:56 We often think that sponsorship 13:59 only impacts on the life of the child, 14:01 but it's much wider than that, 14:03 it impacts on the parents and on the community. 14:07 But more important, it impacts on the school. 14:10 It becomes valuable income for the school, 14:13 and then in turn, 14:15 it impacts on hundreds of other children. 14:17 I just ask that you would consider sponsoring a child 14:21 with Child Impact 14:22 or supporting one of its valuable projects 14:25 that will improve education in Adventist mission schools 14:29 like this one in right here. 14:51 Nepal sandwiched between two Asian giants 14:54 China and India 14:55 is a landlocked sovereign state in the Himalayas. 14:58 The mountain range in the north 15:00 is home to eight of the world's tallest mountain peaks, 15:03 including the highest point on earth, Mount Everest, 15:06 thus making it popular for mountaineering. 15:09 Hinduism is practiced by over 80% of the population 15:13 making it the country 15:14 with the highest percentage of Hindus. 15:16 With the birthplace of Buddha located in this region, 15:19 Nepal is also historically linked with Buddhism 15:22 making it culturally very rich. 15:25 However, Nepal is also economically challenged 15:28 and it's home to some of the poorest 15:30 people on the planet. 15:31 In this economically backward environment and harsh terrain 15:35 where infrastructure and transport is unavailable, 15:38 women become the beast of burden. 15:48 Economic difficulties and cultural perceptions 15:51 have made women of Nepal suffer silently. 15:54 The condition is called uterine prolapse. 15:58 Yes, this is something very interesting 16:00 because this condition of uterus prolapse 16:02 is not so common in most of the countries. 16:05 But interestingly in Nepal 16:07 it is very common to see uterus prolapse in women. 16:12 And the reason, we don't know exactly the reason, 16:14 but over here the ladies have to carry a lot of weight, 16:19 so weight carrying also provide 16:22 the incidents of prolapse more high, 16:26 also having more children 16:28 also provide more incidents of having this problem. 16:32 So it is multi-factorial, 16:34 we cannot point to only one thing. 16:38 But what we know is that in Nepal, 16:41 it is very common to have this problem. 16:46 Uterine prolapse is a condition in women 16:49 where their uterus just falls off their body. 16:51 We learn that one of the main reasons 16:53 women get prolapsed 16:55 is because they are forced to carry heavy loads. 16:57 Sometimes around 50 kilos strapped around their forehead 17:01 pressing down on their neck. 17:03 Often they have to continue 17:04 with this heavy labor right after childbirth. 17:07 The stress and pressure this puts on their lower back 17:09 is so dangerous, 17:11 and their delicate bodies cannot support their uterus. 17:21 We cannot go into the detail of what is the condition 17:25 but having this condition 17:27 affect the woman in an extreme way, 17:31 to the extreme that sometimes the husband leave them 17:35 because of the marital problem that they may have. 17:39 So yes, it is a very incapacitating condition 17:43 for the woman and affects not only the woman 17:46 but also the entire family. 17:49 In this patriarchal society, 17:51 women suffering from prolapse 17:52 are ashamed for their condition, 17:54 and they don't want to come forward 17:56 and suffer in silence for decades. 17:58 The psychological impact this has on their wellbeing 18:01 affects their already battered physical condition. 18:04 Thousands go undetected and when they are discovered, 18:07 they become outcasts, excluded, 18:09 and deserted by their husbands and families. 18:23 Today, women suffering 18:25 from uterine prolapse have hope. 18:27 Over the last 10 years, 18:28 Child Impact International has funded a program 18:31 along with Scheer Memorial Hospital 18:33 to identify these women 18:35 wherever they are and facilitate surgeries 18:38 and provide much needed preventive health education. 18:41 Well, we're partnering with Scheer Memorial Hospital 18:44 because we truly believe 18:45 they're doing a wonderful job in the community. 18:49 It's the only Adventist Hospital in Nepal. 18:52 It's a critical part of the church in Nepal. 18:56 And they now have the facilities 19:00 to do the prolapse operations. 19:03 And so our funding program is very valuable to them 19:08 because they have plenty of capacity. 19:10 And so for us, 19:13 it's very rewarding not only to make 19:18 the change of lives with the women, 19:20 but also we're able to help the institution 19:23 in gaining work and doing work in the community. 19:27 Here at the hospital, 19:29 we have done a lot of prolapse operations. 19:32 I think... 19:34 I forget how many years we've been doing it now, 19:35 maybe 10 or 11 years, but during that time, 19:38 we have now operated on between 8,000 to 9,000 ladies. 19:42 And to see the difference it makes, you know, 19:46 I just can't imagine 19:48 how these women like to spend one... 19:51 I remember one lady, 19:52 she told us that she had been walking around 19:54 with this prolapse hanging out of her body for 50 years. 19:59 Well, as a hospital 20:01 we can say that we are very grateful 20:03 for Asian Aid 20:04 because they have been providing surgeries 20:06 or support for surgeries for the last two years. 20:09 And we are grateful in behalf of the families and the patient 20:13 that we have been treating since. 20:15 Thanks to the help of Asian Aid. 20:28 All throughout its history, 20:30 Scheer Memorial Hospital has been privileged 20:32 to host a number of medical professionals from abroad 20:35 who volunteer their time and expertise conducting camps. 20:39 This has benefited thousands of people 20:41 from the local community, especially women. 20:44 This week, a group from Sydney Adventist Hospital 20:47 from Sydney, Australia is here conducting prolapse operations. 20:51 If you save these women have it fixed, 20:53 not have that prolapse any more, 20:55 they're so happy. 20:57 They hug us, they kiss us, they want to shake our hand, 21:00 they want to touch us, 21:01 and it's just humbling, very humbling 21:05 because we're so grateful now in our society 21:09 that you just don't realize how hard it is for them here 21:14 to be working under the circumstances 21:16 they got to work under. 21:19 Karen is part of a volunteer group 21:21 Open Heart International from Sydney. 21:23 These are medical professionals 21:25 who go to various developing countries each year 21:27 conducting medical camps. 21:29 For Karen and her team, 21:31 camps such as these may seem just another day's work, 21:34 but it has a profound impact on these women 21:36 who suffer from prolapse. 21:38 And for the volunteers, 21:40 it's an opportunity to make a difference 21:41 in their own humble ways. 21:43 Volunteering to me, it's emotional. 21:47 You all get very drawn in to 21:50 what they don't have and what we can do to them. 21:52 We might think we're just doing 21:54 what we do every day back at home, 21:56 but for them it's life changing. 21:59 And even though it might seem just a drop in the ocean, 22:04 for 80 to 90 women in the 10 days 22:07 that we are here operating, 22:09 it changes their lives and that change of life 22:12 for these people that makes it emotional. 22:16 Scheer Memorial Hospital is overwhelmed 22:19 with the inflow of women 22:20 needing surgeries for uterine prolapse. 22:23 Without these volunteers, 22:24 it will be a tough task to facilitate them all. 22:27 In the hospital, we have 200 to 300 surgeries 22:30 will be there in the year. 22:31 Out of 200 to 300, 22:33 we have 30 to 40% of surgery 22:36 will be done the uterine prolapse. 22:39 The only thing that is stopping us to doing more, 22:43 it is basically the financial aspect. 22:45 If we have more, more funding, we can do even more. 22:48 Right now, we do have some funding, 22:50 some other organizations that they come 22:52 and do the surgery themselves. 22:54 But how many we can do, 22:56 it is basically 300, 400, it's countless 23:01 because the incidents is extremely high. 23:08 Over half a million women 23:09 are suffering from prolapse in Nepal, 23:12 and Scheer Memorial Hospital is a place 23:14 they can come to get it fixed and ease their suffering. 23:17 It's so apt to say that Scheer Memorial Hospital 23:20 is truly a beacon on the hilltop. 23:24 To have an institution, 23:26 and for Asian Aid 23:27 to provide the opportunity to these ladies, 23:30 who don't have to live with this, 23:32 this is curable, this is fixable, 23:36 you know, that's the benefit. 23:38 Imagine when a lady has the operation, 23:40 she goes back, 23:42 she's now accepted into the home, 23:45 she can mend relationships, 23:48 she can add value to the family, 23:50 she can add value to the community 23:52 through the other ladies, spread the good news, 23:56 tell them about how people love them 23:58 and want to make things different for them. 24:00 Isn't that a blessing? 24:04 The good news is spreading among women in Nepal. 24:07 The more women are identified, educated, 24:09 and brought to these camps, 24:11 the more women are willing to come out 24:13 and seek medical care. 24:15 This one here, her name is Punyeshwari, 24:18 and she actually has... 24:20 Because she's been so grateful 24:21 for what has happened in her life, 24:23 she has now brought 25 more ladies 24:27 who had operations. 24:29 And I think that's really special. 24:31 And so they're just... 24:32 When we told them we were having a filming today, 24:34 they were just so thrilled to think 24:36 that they could come and say 24:37 how grateful they are for the transformation 24:40 that's happened in their lives. 24:44 Well, it's changed their lives 24:46 and now that they can walk comfortably, 24:48 they are able to work, and help, you know, 24:50 care for their families, 24:52 it's a totally transforming thing 24:55 that I think we just couldn't understand 24:58 unless we had actually been through the same experience 25:01 as they have been. 25:02 And for this lady to bring 25, I think that's really something 25:05 because that shows how grateful she is 25:09 for the operation that she's had. 25:16 Today, Adventist missions like Scheer Memorial Hospital, 25:19 organizations like Child Impact International, 25:22 and the goodwill of hundreds of volunteers and missionaries 25:25 is making a difference. 25:27 And bringing a healing touch to women in Nepal, 25:29 transforming their lives every single day. 25:32 Together it is possible to facilitate 25:35 this transformation for these grateful women. 25:37 It is possible to put smiles back on their faces, 25:40 just to hear them say, "Thank you." 25:49 They are a nation, 25:52 who are so loving and thankful, 25:55 and if I can just help a little bit, 25:57 I'll keep coming back. |
Revised 2018-04-26