10th Annual Sharing Program of Paschim Paaila

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
-Ms. Puja Bisunke, Member, PP batch II

Paschim Paaila organized 10^th Annual Sharing Program on 19 October, 2019 at Bhaktapur Hospital, Dudhpati, Bhaktapur. The program was organized to celebrate the success of completion of 10 years of its service in the sector of WASH, emergency and environmental health and to share progress of Paschim Paaila of FY 2018/19 in presence of guests and paaila members.

The program commenced in chairmanship of Mr. Roshan Chaulagain, Treasurer. Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, Chairperson of ENPHO and Environmentalist was Chief Guest, Mr. Rajendra Shrestha, Program Director of ENPHO was Special Guest and Mr. Manjeet Dhakal, Climate Analyst and, Mr. Phurba Sanhe Moktan, Immediate Past President of Paschim Paaila were Guests in the program. Chief Guest, Special Guest and Chairperson of the program, poured vermi-compost in flower pot to inaugurated the program. Vermi-compost used in the program was obtained from the vermi-composting practitioner of Vermi venture project. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator/Member Secretary of Paschim Paaila, shared the progress on activities and financial updates of FY 2018/19 of Paschim Paaila. Along with the progress sharing, Paschim Paaila team also presented milestones of 10 years’. In the program, Chief Guest, Special Guest, Guest and initiator paaila gave valuable remarks and wishes to Paschim Paaila.

Chief Guest, Special Guest, Guests and Chairperson of the program inaugurated “Journey of 10 YEARS’ of Paschim Paaila”, a document with compilation of 10 years’ activities, achievements and milestone of Paschim Paaila.

During the program, PP batch members were introduced among guests and participants of the program. PP batch is also one of the new initiative of Paschim Paaila to provide volunteering platform with certification to enthusiastic youths with 5 members in each batch.

Every year Paschim Paaila has been acknowledging the effort of volunteerism and dedication with the title “Paaila of the Year” award. Ms. Deepkala Rai, batch member of first PP batch of Paschim Paaila, was awarded as “Paaila of the Year 2018/19 Award”.

Paschim Paaila has also been providing fund as “Paaila Idea Fund” to encourage youths of Nepal for the creative ideas into action in WASH, SDG and Emergency intervention initiatives. This year the support fund amount for Paaila Idea Fund is Rs. 10,000 with contribution of Rs. 5000 from Guest of the program, Mr. Manjeet Dhakal as appreciation to the continuation of the concept.

‘Paaila means footsteps and in these 10 years Paschim Paaila have left good footsteps. This is the time when we have the highest population of youths (active population/ highest energy)- The Golden generation and Only youths can bring change. So, we should use the new means of technology to reach new youths addressing new issues’- Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar.

Suggestions of All the Guests:

With the changing time, our environment is changing and the issues to be focused are also changing. So, should focus on the changing environment and plan accordingly addressing the new issues.

Celebrating Global Handwashing Day 2019

- Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila

Marking Global Handwashing Day 2019, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO and with the support of WaterAid Nepal organized an awareness raising event for the staff members of health care centres. The 3 days event was organized at Bir Hospital, Kantipath on 15 October, 2019; at Nepal Orthopaedic Hospital, Jorpati on 16 October, 2019 and at Bhaktapur Hospital, Bhaktapur on 17 October 2019. The program mainly focused objective of the program was to promote handwashing practice among health care workers through advocacy, and campaigns to prevent health care associated infections.

The event was planned and organized based on the theme of GH Day 2019 i.e. “Clean Hands for All”. The event incorporated various programs like Information dissemination through Booth, Drama show, Orientation program for health care workers and wall painting that helped in awareness raising and sensitization of staff members to practice proper Handwashing at critical times.  

Booth

A booth containing various IEC materials were placed that shared information on handwashing stages and steps along with other WASH Messages. The booth also contained informative and interesting games that attracted and entertained the visitors. Game winners were also provided with the handwashing soaps and sanitizers as gift hampers. A special photo frame with the theme of G H Day 2019 was prepared by Paschim Paaila volunteers using which visitors enjoyed having their pictures framed.

The booth not just helped the hospital staffs to enhance their knowledge, but was also helpful to aware the general public on importance of Handwashing. More than 500 visitors visited the booth.

Drama

Drama, as an effective means to disseminate message and sensitize people was showcased at all the hospitals to aware the mass on importance of Handwashing at health care centres. The drama mainly focused on the importance of Handwashing for health care workers before and after intervening with the patients.  Drama also incorporated important stages of Handwashing, to raise awareness among general public.  

The drama was shown for 2 times a day which was composed and performed by a team of Paschim Paaila volunteers including 1 male and 5 female volunteer. The drama well gathered the attention of the public and helped raising awareness among the mass regarding importance of handwashing. Altogether 220 viewers keenly observed the drama.

Orientation

An orientation on ‘Critical Stages of Handwashing for Health Care Workers’ for the staffs of each hospitals to aware and sensitize them for practicing proper handwashing at the critical times. The orientation briefed about the current status of handwashing practice and mainly focused on the 5 major stages of handwashing as mentioned in the WHO guideline, handwashing steps and prevention to health care associated infection with practice of handwashing.

“As said in orientation, we all are aware and have knowledge on handwashing practice for health care workers. At times we do not get facilities and for that we tend to ignore small yet very important act of washing our hands. But after this orientation, we commit to wash our hands regularly and follow up administration for required facilities” Ms. Indira Pradhan, Nursing Officer, Bhaktapur Hospital.

Altogether 4 orientation sessions were carried out where altogether 205 health care workers including 72 male and 133 female members were oriented on 5 critical stages of handwashing.

Wall Painting

On the occasion of Global Handwashing Day, Wall painting was done at the prime locations of Nepal Orthopaedic Hospital, Jorpati and Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Bhaktapur. The wall painting reflected 5 critical times of handwashing according to the WHO guideline, to remind health care workers on proper handwashing practice.

“We were planning to train our support staff to improve the practice of handwashing among all staff. An approach for the program on Global Handwashing Day 2019 by Paschim Paaila and ENPHO really added value to our plan. We now can further communicate with our support staff too for ensuring handwashing practice in this hospital” Ms. Rina Shrestha, Nursing Administrator, Bir Hospital.