FAIRMED, in collaboration with the Swiss Disability and Development Consortium (SDDC), has been at the forefront of amplifying the voices of women with disabilities in Nepal through innovative participatory research methods. One such initiative is the Photovoice study, which enables participants to document their experiences and challenges through photography.
On September 28, 2024, severe landslides and floods devastated the Sunkoshi and Indrawati regions in Sindhupalchok district, displacing families and causing significant property damage. In response, FAIRMED in collaboration with its local partner, took action to provide essential relief to the most affected households.
In a significant step toward improving health outcomes, the government of Gandaki Province, with the dedicated support of FAIRMED, has released two essential publications: Leprosy Diagnosis Training Manual and Leprosy Diagnosis Participant Handbook. These publications are expected to strengthen leprosy diagnosis capabilities at the community level, ensuring the disease is detected early and treated effectively.
FAIRMED contributed to the development and publication of a comprehensive guideline for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Lumbini Province. This document aims to strengthen the support system for individuals suffering with challenging conditions, such as lymphatic filariasis, by providing a structured approach to rehabilitation and empowerment.
Baglung, August 6, 2024 — A catastrophic landslide struck the Badigad Rural Municipality in Baglung district, affecting Ward Nos. 9 and 10. The disaster resulted in the tragic loss of 10 lives, leaving another 10 individuals injured, who are now receiving medical treatment in Burtibang, Pokhara, and Kathmandu. The landslide has placed approximately 50 households at severe risk due to the unstable terrain, with many homes teetering on the edge of collapse.
In 2024, Nepal conducted an extensive Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to combat Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in Kapilvastu and Jhapa, two districts with alarmingly high LF prevalence rates. Despite previous efforts, the Epidemiological Disease Control Division (EDCD) found a high LF prevalence during a 2022 Re-Pre TAS survey, prompting the introduction of a three-drug regimen—IDA (Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine, and Albendazole). The campaign, supported by numerous partners, aimed to curb LF transmission and increase community engagement and drug compliance.
The Health Office of Morang in collaboration with FAIRMED, under the Province Government's Ministry of Health and the Health Directorate, has successfully completed the Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) Mapping for the year 2079/080 (2023).
In an initiative aimed at fostering inclusivity and empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs), FAIRMED Foundation Nepal, in collaboration with various NGOs and the National Federation of the Disabled – Nepal (NFDN), organized a one-day district-level workshop on disability issues in Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu, and Rupandehi. This workshop not only shed light on the challenges faced by PWDs but also paved the way for transformative change.
Nepal is intensifying its efforts to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) as a public health problem by conducting a confirmatory mapping survey, specifically in its mountainous regions, to assess the presence or absence of LF transmission. The survey, using the Mini Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) protocol, is being undertaken by Nepal’s Epidemiology and Diseases Control Division in close coordination with FAIRMED, USAID's Act to NTDsEast Program Nepal and WHO with the aim of confirming the disease’s endemic status in four districts: Solukhumbu, Manang, Mustang, and Dolpa.
In the heart of Nepal, where agriculture thrives and nature's creatures roam freely, there lies a silent menace: snakebites. The picturesque landscape of Nepal, with its hot climate and abundant rainfall, provides an ideal habitat for snakes. Unfortunately, this coexistence has led to a significant public health issue, impacting the lives of farmers, plantation workers, herdsmen, and fishermen – the backbone of the nation.