Plan for Free/Reduced-Cost Surgical Events in Rural Nepal
1. Objectives
- Provide free or subsidized surgical care to underserved populations in rural Nepal.
- Educate local healthcare workers and families on pre- and post-operative care.
- Build a sustainable network of surgeons, specialists, and local advocates to support long-term surgical access.
2. Pre-Planning Phase (3-6 Months Prior)
a. Needs Assessment
- Identify Target Regions: Focus on rural districts with limited healthcare access (e.g., Karnali, Sudurpashchim, or mountainous regions like Humla and Dolpa). Partner with Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population to pinpoint high-need areas.
- Determine Surgical Needs: Conduct surveys through local health posts to identify common conditions requiring surgery (e.g., trauma, burns, appendicitis, hernias, or transplant-related follow-ups). Use Dr. Subedi’s expertise to prioritize cases within HCI’s capacity.
- Estimate Patient Volume: Plan for 50-100 surgeries per event, based on population size and resource availability.
b. Local Partnerships
- Government Collaboration: Secure approvals from the Ministry of Health and local District Health Offices for permits, customs clearance for equipment, and integration with existing health programs.
- NGOs and Community Groups: Partner with organizations like Nepal Red Cross, Possible Health, or Nyaya Health Nepal for logistical support and community outreach.
- Local Health Workers: Recruit rural health post staff (e.g., nurses, midwives) to assist with patient screening and follow-up care.
c. Funding and Resources
- Budget: Estimate costs for travel, equipment, supplies, and personnel (approx. $50,000-$100,000 per event, depending on scale).
- NFTs: Mint NFTs (e.g., digital art of surgical milestones or patient success stories) to raise funds, appealing to crypto-savvy donors globally.
- Memecoins: Launch something like “SurgeonCoin” that leverages viral crypto trends to crowdfund surgeries, tapping into Nepal’s growing digital youth culture despite crypto’s legal gray areas.