Exams, SPANDAN & a new baby for Lalit

Lalit, DFN's first sponsored student
now in his third year at medical school

Namaste!!

I hope you both are well and good.

My study of final year is going very well. I have to study the major subjects (Medicine, Surgery, Pediatric, Gynecology and Obstetric)  in final year. This year is vital to become a good doctor so I have to study and do good in clinical.
I have got my Mark-sheet a few days back for my latest exams and I have passed!

I became the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF of my college yearly magazine called SPANDAN. It is one of the important work during the study in my college. I have built the team to work for the magazine. The Principal and M.D. has given this responsibility to me.

Aruna, Lalit's wife and Alen, his daughter
with Dr Kate Yarrow last January

My parents and family in village are happy with my result that I passed. My brother is in Kalikot hospital doing a volunteer job after finishing his H.A. course. He is trying to find the job there.

My family in Kathmandu are also good. GOOD NEWS-Aruna is 24 weeks pregnency, she is healthy and good in Kathmandu in her father's house. Alen is also doing well, healthy and had started school.


Bye with lots of love,
Your Nepali son,
Lalit Jung Shahi

Lalits latest exam results for his 3rdMBBS

What are the health seeking needs in Padampokhari by Meena

Meena, DFN's student, on her second community posting in Padampokhari VDC, 5 hours away from Kathmandu

Namaste,

I hope you all are fine. Nahakul and I am also fine here. Did you reach safely there? 

In our second community posting, I was posted at Padampokhari VDC of Makwanpur district. It is a 5 hour bus ride from Kathmandu. 

Understanding the health needs in rural areas is a cornerstone of DFN's work

The duration of posting was one week. Within that one week, we learnt about the educational level, health seeking behaviors, socio-economic and health status of people in community. It was really a great experience for me.

My formative exam result has also arrived and it didn’t turn out to be so good but now I am working hard for my upcoming summative exam which starts from December 11. I have been facing problems in computer and mathematics but I’m trying my best to improve.

Hope to keep in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Meena Kafle Chaulagain

Meena's fellow students on her second community posting

Return to Patan Academy for Dr Kate Yarrow

Meeting the chairs of the Patan Academy at its 7th Consultative Meeting

I was honoured to be invited to Kathmandu in October to participate in the Annual International Consultative Meeting for Patan Academy over 5 days. This meeting is one of  many great minds from across the globe, composed by eminent professors and deans from a variety of worldwide institutions such as Harvard University. The panel was chaired by professor Cliff Tabin, professor of genetics at Harvard.

The aim of this meeting was to tackle the future training needs of the medical students in relation to the complex healthcare needs of rural Nepal.

The main outcome for DFN was strengthened links with Patan Academy, a better understanding of the dire healthcare situation in rural Nepal, and a clearer future for our aims and goals as a charity.

DFN's three students, Lalit, Meena and Nahakul with Dr Kate Yarrow and Rajesh Gongal, Patan's Dean

Accompanied by Lalit, our current sponsored student, I was also able to meet with our two new students Meena and Nahakul, both of whom, we are very proud to say, have now signed their contacts with DFN and Patan. I was also able to deliver a large batch of donated medical books and laptops to help them with their studies.

The delegates at the Annual International Consultative Meeting for Patan Academy

Nina, Mrinmayee, Abishek and Mark all sweat for Doctors for Nepal

On Sunday 9th October, four intrepid DFN supporters put on their running shoes to raise vital funds for our future doctors taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon, a race which takes participants from The Green Park along the Thames, up to Temple Tube Station and back down to Kensington Garden through Hyde Park.

Between the three of them, Nina, Mrinmayee & Abishek have raised just over £1,500

We are very proud to say that our four runners, Nina, Mrinmayee, Abishek and Mark all completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon in, let's say it, near Olympic times!Mrinmayee finished in 2:30:00, Abishek in 2:28:46 and Nina finished in a record 1:58:14.

"I did it in a (personal best) time of 1.48.48 which placed me 2298 out of. 12000 so I'm quite pleased." Mark

Between the four of them, our athletes raised just over £2000 with donations still coming in, Mark raising £445 through his Just Giving page.

Taking part in similar events for DFN is a very effective way of fundraising and help us raise our profile. We are extremely thankful to those of you who take part in such events to support our students.

So, a big thank you to all four of you for choosing to support Doctors for Nepal. With two new medical students on board and thanks to your funds, we are one step closer to providing better healthcare in the remote areas of Nepal.