My Last Piece of Clothing

CHR is an epitome of hope to people living in mid-western Nepal. Situated in Chaurjahari, West Rukum District, it caters to around 80,000 people a year. The patients that visit share similar circumstances of poverty and adversity. Such is also the story of Anshu Kumari Dhyar (name changed).

She had a premature home birth at 7 months of her pregnancy. Seven days after her delivery, she was bleeding heavily and fainted, which made her husband become very anxious and scared. He then decided to travel to Chaurjahari hospital with all of his savings, a total sum of NPR 11,000 (approx. 71 GBP).

His journey started with carrying his wife on a chair on his back, as she was not in the state to walk, and with his 9-year-old daughter carrying their newborn to the nearest bus stop, which is 4 hours away from their home. The bus journey was another long arduous 11 hours journey to Chaurjahari hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, her first words before she fainted were:

Please do not tear off or throw my clothes away. This is my last piece of clothing.”

The doctors quickly examined her, found some placenta inside her uterus, and determined that she requires blood transmission and an emergency uterine operation. CHR staff donated their blood to save her life and she started recovering slowly after her operation. Her husband had spent every penny he had and he was worried about how they would return home. However, upon learning of their misfortune, CHR stepped in to ease their burden and provide them with free medical and food support during their stay at the hospital.

This story highlights the work of HDCS to help alleviate the burden of poverty and hunger (SDG 1, 2) and provide quality health services (SDG3) to people living in remote rural Nepal. HDCS CHR is located in a strategically positioned location adjoining three districts of remote rural Nepal, namely: Jajarkot, Rukum, and Salyan. There are many such cases observed at our hospital in Chaurjahari that require support for the survival of the patients. HDCS is proud and privileged to have this responsibility of serving the marginalized and destitute.