Redefining remote: telehealth arrives in the Waku health post
Sitting deep in the Himalaya, the Waku Health Post provides health care to the people of the Rural Municipality of Mapya Dudhkoshi, Solukhumbu. Due to its remoteness, getting access to healthcare is difficult, sometimes meaning hours of walking for the people of the region. With the support of Action for Nepal and AHF, recent adoption of telehealth consultations in Waku is bridging the gap and getting people treated.
Bimala, an Auxiliary Health Worker at the post has witnessed the impact of these teleconsultations and their ability to diagnose and treat patients. In one such experience, Bimala encountered an elderly woman who had walked three hours to receive treatment for pain and shortness of breath. She required further assistance from doctors in Kathmandu.
"I thought teleconsultation was needed here. We recently have started teleconsultation service after the orientation and on-site coaching by Action for Nepal. The decision of teleconsultation was for the better. So, I gave the phone to the woman herself and she shared her pain with the doctor. I could really see the assurance and hope in her eyes being relieved from the pain that she was going through - and I also could feel the trust she had in us.
Diagnosed and prescribed medication, the patient was asked to come back for a follow up appointment. A week later, Bimala was surprised to see the woman arriving at the health post with a broad smile, seemingly cured of her condition, allowing her to go about her daily life.
"You know, I was amazed to see the impact of one short teleconsultation service and realised how important this was to the people of Waku. People have started to know about this service and have come to the health post with their complaints."
With support from Action for Nepal, teleconsultation infrastructure is not the only improvement Waku has seen. The Waku Health Post has set up a lab service with equipment and received staff training and recruitment. When paired with the teleconsultation service, this new infrastructure has allowed staff to upskill through virtual and onsite coaching.
"We are able to provide improved health services through teleconsultation as well as lab services, and this is all because of support from Action for Nepal. Before this training we were not really aware of the appropriate way of taking and writing down the history of the patients but now we do it with ease. The training has amplified our confidence to treat the patients and elevated our motivation to provide quality and improved health services."
Birmala is grateful for the support of Action for Nepal funded by generous AHF donors and the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
"I am deeply thankful to Action for Nepal for introducing such an impactful program that has been directly benefiting the community through improved health services - and bringing smiles to their faces. Thank you for realising that the teleconsultation service was needed here and supporting the equipment for lab services. We have been highly encouraged by your support."
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