Cause of Death

Posted by Bibhav Acharya
One of Nyaya Health’s board members, Bibhav Acharya, reflects on a patient’s story from the summer of 2008.
She went into cardiac arrest as she was carried into the clinic. The men carrying her said she had been bitten by a snake. We put everything on hold and rushed to assist her. There [...]

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The treatment of a fall injury in Achham

Posted by Piali Mukhopadhyay and Astha Ramaiya
Nyaya’s medical team has encountered a substantial number of fall injuries over the course of its operation in Sanfe Bagar and now Bayalpata Hospital. Such injuries are common in Achham due to the mountainous geography and poor road infrastructure. Most residents must navigate the challenging terrain on a daily [...]

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Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Achham

Posted by Piali Mukhopadhyay, as told to her by Dr. Jhapat Thapa
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating condition that takes a severe toll on those it afflicts. Common causes of COPD in developing country settings include smoking and exposure to indoor air pollution; the latter is often associated with stoves that burn [...]

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A diagnosis of schizophrenia

Posted by Sushant Wagley, as told to him by Dr. Jhapat Thapa
Recently, 27-year old man, accompanied by his father, came to Bayalpata Hospital to visit our outpatient department. They brought along a bag full of prescription medications, old medical charts, and CT images of the young man’s brain. During the check-up, the father [...]

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Treating a potentially deadly snake bite

Posted by Sushant Wagley, as told to him by Dr. Jhapat Thapa
This evening, a six-year old boy was brought to Bayalpata Hospital after being bitten by a snake on his right leg. The patient, his father, and another relative walked for 3 hours to reach our hospital for treatment. He was our first [...]

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Preventing unnecessary deaths from diarrhea

Posted by Aram Harrow, as told to him by Dr. Aditya Sharma
Wherever water treatment and sewer systems are inadequate, people live with the constant risk of diarrhea, typically from bacterial infection. Diarrhea is most dangerous to young children, and (after pneumonia) is the second most common cause of infant death worldwide. For adults, even [...]

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Treating life-threatening burns

Posted by Aram Harrow, as told to him by Dr. Aditya Sharma
Two months ago, a four-year old girl accidentally knocked over a pot of hot oil, which left her with burns on her face and scalp. The story of her treatment illustrates both the urgent need for accessible healthcare that Nyaya Health addresses, and [...]

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The treatment – and perils – of common bone fractures in Achham

Posted by Tanya Shah
A young boy was recently brought to the Nyaya Health clinic from one of the outlying communities of Achham. The day before, he had fallen out of a tree while playing with other children. He developed pain in his left arm and a large cut in the skin with muscle, [...]

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Difficult patient referral decisions: a case of appendicitis

Posted by Tanya Shah
The decision to refer a patient to a hospital for surgical care is not easy for Nyaya Health providers to make.  The cost of transportation alone can be prohibitive and surgical services at the referral centers also require significant cash.  For the average family in Achham, this can mean more than a [...]

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Improving home-based diabetic care

Posted by Tanya Shah
Last year, a 19-year-old female came to the Nyaya Health clinic with symptoms consistent with a bladder infection. However, she appeared to be unusually ill for what is normally a simple infection to treat and cure. Further testing in our laboratory revealed that she had insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetes. [...]

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Treating a patient for diabetes and high blood pressure

Posted by Tanya Shah
Eight months ago, a 74-year old man who lives near the Nyaya Health clinic came to our out-patient department because he was feeling ill. Upon performing a physical exam, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Through a series of lab tests using the I-Stat machine, the patient was found [...]

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Stillbirths and newborn deaths – a tragic but preventable reality

Posted by Shefali Oza, as told to her by Dr. Jhapat Bahadur Thapa, MBBS
We recently had a 35-year old female come to our clinic for an antenatal clinic visit. She was pregnant with her seventh child. Of the previous six, only the first had survived. Four others were stillborn and one died [...]

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Treating an Open Abdominal Wound

Posted by Shefali Oza as told to her by Dr. Jhapat Bahadur Thapa, MBBS

A 12-year old boy from an area two hours walking distance from the Nyaya Health clinic was brought in after an abdominal injury. While looking after a grazing bull, the bull became aggressive and injured the boy’s lower abdomen. He [...]

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Diagnosing and Treating an Abdominal Abscess

Posted by Dr. Aditya Sharma, MD
A 35 year-old female from a village in Achham was carried to our clinic by stretcher. She was brought here by several family members, including a healthy husband, just after the outpatient and delivery services had ended for the evening. During the previous two weeks, she had significant weight [...]

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Treatment and Transfer of a Patient with Gunshot Wounds

posted by Aditya Sharma
An 18- year old male from the district of Bajura was injured while hunting with family members. He was accidentally shot from behind at an oblique angle, which created a bullet tract from the lower right abdomen, through part of the abdomen, transecting the genitalia, and exiting through the left thigh. [...]

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