Free Medical Camp for Slum Dwellers

Believers Eastern Church Diocese of Kathmandu in Nepal organized a free medical camp in Balkhu, one of the worst slums in Kathmandu, on 29 September 2022 through Hope for Children.

Located next to the most polluted river called Bagmati which flows through the Kathmandu city, Balkhu slum is home to over 450 families, mostly daily wage earners and migrated workers. Most of these families live in small huts made of bamboo, old zinc sheets and plastic materials. Due to fetid rubbish and raw sewage being dumped directly into the river, the people of this slum often fall prey to various ailments and many lose their lives every year.

Most of the children of this slum never had an opportunity to go to school as they are either forced into begging or work on garbage collection. With the goal of giving these children an opportunity for a better future, Believers Eastern Church Diocese of Kathmandu has established a Hope for Children center which is now providing these children with proper education, while also creating an awareness of their rights and teaching them about health and hygiene.

It was with the aim of promoting health awareness among these children and offering them easy access to quality healthcare, Hope for Children organized the free medical camp. Held from 8 am to 1 pm, the camp offered healthcare services including specialist doctor consultations, check-ups and medicines; all completely free of charges.

More than 230 children, including many slum-dwellers were screened for various ailments during the camp.
The slum-dwellers were very much thankful and expressed their gratitude for the free medicines, medical treatment they had availed at the camp.