The Coronavirus crisis has had huge implications for Nepal.The Nepal government has responded to the needs of those living in many remote areas without access to Primary Care Units or Hospitals and has diverted funds into increasing Health care at this critical time.
We understand that a hospital is now being constructed in the Umakunda region of Nepal which will serve those living in Preeti. Sitara, the NGO with whom we work has reported that the local government for Preeti is now reluctant to go ahead with constructing the Health and Birthing Centre at Preeti which had been planned. The Local Government had undertaken to fund a percentage of the Centre and ensure it's sustainability by providing funds for staffing. After careful consideration of the situation and following advice from Sitara and our Nepali directors, The Nestling Trust has decided to withdraw from the Preeti proposal and seek to establish a birthing centre in an area of need which does not have access to any such facility. This could possibly be at one of the Health Clinics already established by the Nestling Trust in Marbu, Bhirkot, Lapilang, Chilankha or Melung. Sitara and TNT directors in Nepal are currently in discussion with the local governments for these areas to determine which site would be of most benefit for the Dolakha area.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated to the Nestling Trust Preeti project, through the BigGive Matchfunding Christmas Challenge where we were able to raise a fantastic £20,095!
​
We are delighted to say that through your generosity work can begin in January 2020 to build and establish a Health and Birthing Centre at Preeti, a remote area in Nepal where currently 30,000 people have no medical facility. Imagine having to trek for miles across difficult mountainous terrain to find the nearest health post, sometimes arriving too late to help very sick patients.

We are enormously grateful for everyone's support, which has come from as far away as NZ, USA and Canada as well as many places in the UK and of course from our local supporters in Wiltshire. Thank you for all your loyal support, for believing in us and encouraging us in our work in Nepal. It is through you that we are able to make changes to improve the health and the lives of the most needy, disadvantaged and marginalised people - thank you.

An engineer from Kathmandu, assesses land and costs for building a Health and Birthing Centre at Preeti.
 
The government recognising the need for health facilities in the remote areas, have agreed to give a percentage of the building costs.
​This is a National health initiative and the government has produced comprehensive plans for the construction which include a laboratory, a birthing centre and a flat above to accommodate trained staff who will be required to relocate from Kathmandu.
TNT engaged in lengthy discussions with villagers, as well as community development officials, listening to their plans for the future, when they hope they might have medical facilities to reduce the hardship, suffering and needless loss of life, they currently experience.

areRequests for help from the Development Committee at Preeti, led to TNT and SITARA making the journey to Preeti in the mountainous Ramechap district to see for themselves the extent of the problem. They found an area where 30,000 people live, where all access tracks and roads are blocked by snow or landslides making them impassable for up to 8 months a year, and where there is no medical facility and no Birthing centre. Lengthy talks with villagers and local government officials revealed that the hope is for a Primary Health Centre to be built on land villagers are prepared to donate. The need for medical facilities is without question. Much assessment work and proposals now to be done - watch this space!