May 2012
7 posts
Nyaya Health posts a mid-year update revealing...
Mark Arnoldy is the executive director of Nyaya Health.
This week, a set of comprehensive organizational updates were posted to Nyaya Health’s page on GiveWell’s website. We encourage our community of support to review the updates (even though GiveWell hasn’t yet had the time to formally review them themselves) and send feedback to us at info@nyayahealth.org. The updates...
New Construction on Staff Room at Bayalpata...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
Construction has started to help improve a large room that will be used as a staff conference room, library and lounge. We are all very excited to have a space where staff can get together to learn and to relax while off-duty.
Hard at work fixing a window that will help to keep the room dry during monsoon season
View...
Continuing Medical Education at Bayalpata Hospital
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
As a part of our mission to build a leading health care facility in Far-Western Nepal, continuing medical education is an important piece of our work. Our health assistants continue to learn and solidify their knowledge during daily teaching rounds where staff and volunteers give lectures on various disease processes and...
What we're reading: "Solar Power for Nepal...
http://www.portlandpearlrotary.org/solar-power-nepal-hospital-pearl-rotary-lets-sun-shine/
Two Minutes to Change the Future of Health Care...
Nyaya Health recently submitted an application to the Rising Stars in Global Health competition, a program of Grand Challenges Canada. This competition aims to tap into the creativity, knowledge and skills of early-career innovators to solve some of the most persistent health challenges in the developing world through scientific/technological, business, and social innovation.
By voting for this...
Blood Banking Services Become a Reality at...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
After months of planning for a new laboratory, the dream of storing and giving blood to patients was recently made a reality. The plans were finalized at a meeting that included members from the community, the Nepal Red Cross Society, and Bayalpata Hospital.
A community member speaks in favor of Bayalpata Hospital and...
Thursday Tea Time (T3) at Bayalpata Hospital
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
In order to build a stronger and closer staff, Nyaya Health’s Country Director Gregory Karelas has started the weekly ritual of Thursday Tea Time, also known as “T3.” Staff members meet on the hill top “hotels” (cafes) to enjoy some hot chia (tea) while chatting amongst one another.
A group picture...
April 2012
13 posts
Solar Water Heaters Installed at Bayalpata...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
In preparation for new our new surgical center and also to help ward off the bitter cold of winter showers for staff, Bayalpata Hospital has installed solar water heaters on hospital grounds.
Nyaya Health’s Country Director Gregory Karelas shows off our new solar water heaters.
Bayalpata Hospital Working Towards Safer Sex
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
GaRDeF (Gangotri Rural Development Forum) is a regional NGO working on HIV/AIDS issues. It has excellent network in rural areas in the far-western and mid-western districts in Nepal. Thanks to GaRDeF, Bayalpata Hospital now has a condom dispenser for patients in our outpatient department waiting area. GaRDeF will be...
Nyaya Health's Executive Director Mark Arnoldy...
Each year, Do Something.org honors an elite group of young world-changers under 25. Semi-finalists for the Do Something Award were announced yesterday, and we’re excited to announce that Nyaya Health’s Executive Director Mark Arnoldy was named one of the 12 semi-finalists!
Stay tuned: This summer, up to four finalists will be awarded a $10,000 grant and one Grand Prize Winner will...
Nyaya Health Facilitates Praxis Network Technical...
Dan Schwarz is a member of the Nyaya Health Board of Directors.
As part of Nyaya’s work with the Praxis Network (PN), we recently facilitated a Technical Exchange Call with other PN organizations, sharing lessons and challenges with regards to each organization’s data monitoring and evaluation operations. The call was graciously hosted by Partners In Health’s Director of...
Bayalpata Hospital Laboratory and Pharmaceutical...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
In the beginning, all organizations start by haphazardly getting medications and supplies to survive and take care of patients. Since the arrival of Nyaya Health’s Country Director Gregory Karelas, we are fortunate to have put together our first procurement committee. Having a more organized system of procurement...
Postpartum Intrauterine Device (IUD) Insertion...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
Abortions are frequent here in Achham. In an effort to improve contraceptive measures that are proven to work, Dr. Sarah Averbach taught our auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) how to properly insert copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) immediately after delivery.
Agya Poudyal (our Community Health Director) helps translate...
Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Teaching and Emergency...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
Mortality from postpartum hemorrhage is high in Nepal. As such, Dr. Sarah Averbach, a 3rd year OBGYN resident from Harvard University, gave a lecture on the prevention and management of postpartum hemorrhage. In order to make things easier, she also put together a kit with all the necessary medications, supplies and...
Nyaya Health + One Day's Wages = Completed funding...
Mark Arnoldy is the Executive Director of Nyaya Health.
Thanks to communities of support via One Day’s Wages, Nyaya Health has completed funding to build Far-Western Nepal’s first microbiology laboratory. Learn more here.
New Whiteboards and Calendar at Bayalpata Hospital
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
New whiteboards and and a calendar have arrived at Bayalpata Hospital. The ER procedure room whiteboard will be used when we give lectures for staff on different health topics. The ER hallway whiteboard will be used as a calendar for important meetings and lectures for staff.
Greg Karelas, Chanakya and Netraj Kunwar...
Clinical vignette from Achham: Kala azar patient...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
Our very sick—but very cute—4-year-old patient Jagat was diagnosed with Kala azar (Leishmaniasis) and was urgently transferred to Kathmandu for further treatment at 3am on Monday, April 9th. Our ambulance driver, Dili, took the patient to the airport in Dhangari and made sure that our patient and his family made...
Liquidnet and Net Impact Enlist Business Students... →
World Health Organization Representatives Visit...
Payel Gupta, MD, is the Director of Clinical Operations for Nyaya Health.
On April 4, 2012 we had two representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) conduct an index on safety practices and safe waste management. It comes at a perfect time for us as we start figuring out our waste management procedures here at Bayalpata Hospital. They will be back to give us advice on how we can...
March 2012
24 posts
Bayalpata Hospital Vital Statistics for the Month...
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
This month, the hospital has seen an increase in outpatients and antenatal care patients. The number of deliveries was not very different from last month. There was a slight decrease in emergency patients and inpatients as compared to Magh. During the warmer months, the hospital tends to see more outpatients.
Menstrual Hygiene Workshop
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
On Sunday, March 25th, Agya Poudyal, Asha Thapa, and I conducted a menstrual hygiene workshop for girls in the local school. This workshop was supported Change Fusion Nepal, an organization which awarded Agya Poudyal a Youth Action Fund award earlier this year.
Twenty-one girls attended the workshop to learn about...
Assisting in a Roadside Delivery
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
On Sunday March 18th, Gauri Sunar, one of Bayalpata’s auxillary midwive nurses, was walking home after her night duty. It around 8 am when she was met someone running towards her.
This person told Gauri sister that someone was delivering on the road. Gauri sister ran to the mother. The mother was on her way to the...
Nyaya Health Releases 2012 Research Strategy
Dan Schwarz is a member of the Nyaya Health Board of Directors.
In line with Nyaya Health’s vision of being a leader in data-driven and transparent operations, we have recently been working to develop a more formal research and evaluation strategy for our work in Achham. To that end, we have formalized several new volunteer and full-time positions, and have recently posted a new vacancy to...
Article: Women survive violence with help from... →
Nyaya Health’s Director of Community Health, Agya Poudyal, writes for Women News Network on domestic violence, injustice, and women in Nepal.
Laboratory Expansion Update
Duncan Maru, MD/PhD, is a co-founder of Nyaya Health.
Last week, our Country Director Gregory Karelas, our Laboratory Technologist Kanchan Gautam, and I had the opportunity to review progress and vision for the lab expansion via conference call. I took notes and updated our laboratory expansion document here.
More details are found there, but to summarize, our overarching short-term goals...
Transparency Matters: February 2012 U.S. Monthly...
Minoo Ramanathan is a Nyaya Health volunteer.
Without fail, every month when I compile Nyaya’s U.S. Monthly Financial Report I am humbled by all the individuals and organizations that give so generously - many even on a regular basis. The majority of these donors have never even been to Nepal, let alone our hospital in Achham, and yet show their continued faith in our promise to direct...
Bus Accident Hits Bayalpata Hospital
Mark Arnoldy is the executive director of Nyaya Health.
A 23-person bus accident served as a stark reminder of just how life-saving Nyaya Health’s work at Bayalpata Hospital is. Our staff handled the emergency treatment with speed, grace, and professionalism. Here, concerned community members grip the gates to search for those they may know. Everyone is currently safe and under treatment,...
Windows go in on Far-Western Nepal's first...
Mark Arnoldy is the executive director of Nyaya Health.
It was opportune to catch our local workers installing the first new aluminum window frame in a building that is quickly transforming into Far-Western Nepal’s first microbiology lab (and also a blood transfusion center). In a matter of a few short months, patients will be receiving services never offered in this region of Nepal in a...
Immunization Program to Launch
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation at Nyaya Health.
In collaboration with the District Hospital Office (DHO) and Bayalpata Hospital, we will soon be having an immunization program. The DHO will provide us with the free vaccines and one staff member who will come once every month to immunize the community. We hope that in the future, we can provide immunizations once a...
Arrival of three new volunteers at Bayalpata...
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation at Nyaya Health.
One day before the Holi festival, three volunteer doctors arrived here at the hospital. Dr. Payel Gupta, will be staying with us for 5-6 months. Her role here at Bayalpata will be Director of Clinical Operations. She will be helping various departments with their work and also helping with improving quality of work.
Two...
Research Update from Richa
Richa Pokhrel is the director of evaluation and research for Nyaya Health.
Since my return to Achham, I have been busy doing interviews both at the hospital and in the community. Upon my return, the first community location I went to was in Janalikot. However, this ward was about a 2 hour walk from the hospital. Agya Poudyal, the Community Health Director, and I woke up early one Sunday morning...
A X-Ray repair completed thanks to Sedecal's...
Mark Arnoldy is the executive director of Nyaya Health.
As written about in this blog post here, Nyaya Health’s X-Ray machine from Sedecal experienced its first mishap after over 15 months of use at Bayalpata Hospital last month. What followed was a heroic repair effort involving our X-Ray Technician Dhan Bahadur, multiple other staff members, Sedecal’s Sergio Rios, and 8 hours of...
2 ISPs, 2x the internet speed at Bayalpata...
Mark Arnoldy is the executive director of Nyaya Health.
Staff member Madan repairing internet on the Administrative Department’s roof.
Usually lightning striking and disabling our internet at Bayalpata Hospital brings only bad news. But when it happened 5 days ago, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Thanks to the ingenuity of our Data and Technology Officer Deepak Bista, we...
New Electrocardiogram (ECG) Machine at Bayalpata
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
Bayalpata Hospital received it’s first electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) machine this week. The machine came from Bikash surgery, a distributor in Nepal. The clinical staff have already started using it. Volunteer doctors, Dr. Mark Goodman and Dr. Payel Gupta have been teaching the health assistants how to use the...
Nyaya Health publishes February Board Meeting...
Zach Silver, Tufts Class of 2012, serves as Executive Assistant at Nyaya Health.
As part of Nyaya Health’s commitment to transparency, we release all of our Board meeting minutes, agenda, and supplementary materials that do not contain any private or harmful information to our team members, donors, or partners. You can find the most recent materials from our February Board of Directors...
Procurement Update: EKG and Infant Warmer
Duncan Maru, MD/PhD, is a co-founder of Nyaya Health.
Procurement has been a long and difficult challenge for Nyaya (as it is for pretty much all remote rural providers in resource-limited settings) over the last year, so it was with great enthusiasm that I found myself sitting in my old friend A.B. Bhandari’s Bikash Surgical Concern office in Kathmandu reviewing medical equipment. This...
Staff Trainings
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
Bharat Rawal, our Maintenance Officer, has left for training in Kathmandu. This two-month training will focus on biomedical equipment waste disposable management. As the person who fixes many things in the hospital, he was very excited to go to the capital to attain new skills. His training will be especially helpful when...
Clinical Vignette from Achham: An Incurable Broken...
Duncan Maru, MD/PhD, is a co-founder of Nyaya Health.
A woman, aged in her fifties, presented to Bayalpata unable to use her right wrist. Three months previously, she had fallen on her wrist while walking. She suffered through the pain until finally making the day-long trip to Bayalpata Hospital with her husband.
Her wrist was exquisitely tender to palpation over the distal radius at the...
Fixing Plugs, Fixing Systems
Duncan Maru, MD/PhD, is a co-founder of Nyaya Health.
It’s an awful feeling. Ten hours away from the nearest small-sized city, finally having fixed the generator, now the electric plug is missing. No generator means no back-up power. No back-up power means in periods of high load and extended grid outages, the lights go out in the emergency, laboratory, and inpatient spaces, and care...
Monthly Statistics from Bayalpata Hospital
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
Deliveries 17
Inpatients 104
Emergency Patients 262
Outpatients 1,827
X-Rays 282
Ultrasounds 64
Laboratory Tests 7,239
Antenatal Care Patients 48
HIV+ Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy 0
Children Screened for Malnutrition 0
Children Treated for Malnutrition ...
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
After recent encounters with several Hepatitis B positive patients, Bayalpata Hospital has started an immunization program to protect all its staff, both clinical and non-clinical. The majority of the staff has already received their first dose or will be receiving it soon. In a month from now, they will receive their...
February 2012
21 posts
Transforming Transparency: Update
Duncan Maru, MD/PhD, is a co-founder of Nyaya Health.
I have written previously about the transformative possibility that Richa Pokhrel, our first Director of Evaluation and Research, represented to Nyaya Health. It has been my job as one of the primary research and evaluation people to recruit, train, and develop her work plan. Having myself spent 5 of her first 9 weeks with her in Achham, I...
Breaking Ground on New Surgical Center at...
Gregory Karelas is the Country Director for Nyaya Health.
We broke ground on our Surgical Center today. Our first line of skilled craftsmen arrived this morning with meters of pipe and plumbing equipment in hand. They surveyed the grounds once again, sealed the water lines to the building…and the rest will soon be wonderful Nyaya history.
Second Procurement Meeting
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
The second procurement meeting took place on in late January. This meeting was very efficient and effective because the team decided on three main things:
With the hire of the new Kathmandu Administrator, the hospital hopes to establish a systematic supply chain from Kathmandu to Bayalpata.
Renovations for a few things...
New Registration System at Bayalpata Hospital
Richa Pokhrel is the director of research and evaluation for Nyaya Health.
Bayalpata hospital is adopting a new patient registration system. Instead of having the registration assistant write the patient’s ID number and information on an outpatient department (OPD) card, the new systems allows everything to be entered into the computer and print that information within seconds. With this...
Nyaya Health Wiki Update: New DropBox Transparency...
Zach Silver, Tufts Class of 2012, serves as Executive Assistant at Nyaya Health.
At Nyaya Health, we believe in providing the utmost level of transparency so that you can know exactly what is going on behind the scenes of our work. We aim to maintain an “open source” approach that will provide you with access to our expenditures, operations protocols, and clinical outcomes. With this...