KATHMANDU, March 21: Nivaran Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on ending poverty and inequality, is set to launch a project worth $18 million, focused on improving the access to healthcare across rural communities of Nepal from May.
The foundation announced the launch of the project amid a program held at the capital on Friday.
At the event, representatives of the foundation said that Project Sanjeevani aims to empower citizens from the rural areas of Nepal, deprived of health services, by providing easy and affordable access to quality healthcare.
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Speaking at the program, Ujwal Subedi, Fundraising and Development Manager of the foundation reiterated the commitment of the foundation to maximize the benefits to the rural communities by cutting the administrative costs.
“Generally, donor organizations partner with International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs), which in turn partner with their Nepali chapter, which then collaborates with local partners. Administrative costs of 25 percent at each level diminishes the benefits to the people in need of help,” Subedi said, “We will cut the administrative costs by directly partnering with the donor organizations.”
Nivaran Foundation has planned to start health camps starting in May, covering 252 municipalities of 52 districts in Karnali, Sudurpaschim, Koshi, Gandaki, and Bagmati provinces. The project aims to serve a population of 4,50,000, covering health services in eye care, dental care, general medicine, ENT, and lab testing.
At the program, Communications Manager of the foundation Deeparshan Khadka encouraged Nepali youths pursuing higher education in foreign countries to return to Nepal and apply their knowledge and experience in Nepal.
“We all know of the problems in Nepal,” he said, “We can either wait for the change or be the ones that bring the change.”
According to the foundation, Phase 1 of the project (2025-2027) will focus on health camps, Phase 2 (2027-2029) will focus on establishing a network of Nivaran health centers, Phase 3 (2027-2032) will kick-start a drive to establish Nivaran Foundation 50-bed hospitals in all 77 districts of Nepal and Phase 4 (2032-2036) will be dedicated to establishing Nivaran Foundation Central Hospital with more than 700+ beds, as a research, learning, and training hub.
