Hope and Healing at Green Pastures Hospital

This article was written by Global Connections using stories and content originally published on the INF UK website.

International Nepal Fellowship (INF) Nepal was established in 1952 and is Nepal’s longest-serving international non-government organisation. INF helps people affected by leprosy, spinal cord injuries, and other disabilities, facilitates development in some of Nepal’s most remote and marginalised communities, and runs medical outreach programmes.

Their vision is to bring Life in all its fullness for poor and disadvantaged people of Nepal.

Matthew Hanning has recently taken over as Chief Executive of INF UK from John Reynolds, who has retired after 28 years in the role. We look at some of the people and good news stories behind the recent work of INF at its flagship Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara, Nepal, which John Reynolds was closely involved with over the years.

Green Pastures Hospital

Green Pastures Hospital was founded in 1957 by Eileen Lodge and Betty Bailey who worked tirelessly for people suffering from leprosy.

Today, Green Pastures Hospital has developed into a modern, thriving 100-bed hospital specialising in treatment and rehabilitation for people with disabilities. This includes still providing comprehensive care, including diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation, for individuals affected by leprosy in western Nepal. The hospital also serves as a centre for study on leprosy, contributing valuable insights to the global effort to combat the disease.

Green Pastures’ services for people with disabilities also include plastic and reconstructive surgery, ear disorder treatment, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and palliative care.

The hospital is known for its patient-centred approach and community outreach, providing healthcare to marginalised communities often living in very remote and hard-to-reach parts of Nepal.

Leprosy in Nepal

The World Health Organisation, Government of Nepal and INF are working towards zero leprosy in Nepal. The strategies aim for: zero infection, zero disability, and zero stigma. One of the main reasons leprosy persists is the stigma it carries. People in Nepal often don’t know that if they get medical help early, leprosy can be treated and doesn’t have to ruin their lives. Others are scared to face their symptoms and seek medical help, worried they will be excluded from their community if people find out. Untreated, it spreads.

Care and Rehabilitation at the Eileen and Betty Centre

In February 2024, a new leprosy ward, was opened at Green Pastures. The Eileen and Betty Centre, has transformed the treatment and care of leprosy patients in western Nepal. In poor rural areas, families rely solely on agriculture for their livelihood. The leprosy ward also now has a greenhouse and self-farming field to help with the rehabilitation of patients, a good example of holistic healthcare.

Kopila is grateful for leprosy support

“When I was diagnosed I was very sad and anxious about leprosy. I thought I had to be isolated from my family, but it was not like that. The team at Green Pastures explained everything and helped me and my family understand about leprosy. My family were also tested for leprosy, and they were all clear.

“Later on I was having difficulties because my hand became deformed, but then I also had surgery here. Now I am able to grip and squeeze so my hand is able to function again.

“I am now free from leprosy and enjoying life with my family. I know that problems will happen again because when I work at home there is still a tendency to get ulcers. Whenever I have to come back to Green Pastures I am grateful that all of the treatment is free, and I am happy because everybody here cares for me and loves me.”

Dirga Man Gurung teaches patients how to farm safely with leprosy

Dirga Man Gurung loves showing people that they can still live their lives despite amputations or numb hands or feet.

On a typical day, Dirga Man gathers his eager students in the hospital’s dedicated safe farming area, ready to learn. He begins by demonstrating specialised techniques to protect their hands and feet from cuts or injuries.

“We must be watchful,” he explains, “Our hands may not feel pain, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t protect them.”

Under his guidance, the patients carefully dig fields, sow seeds, and pluck ripe spinach and tender lettuce. With each technique they learn, they are gaining back self-esteem, confidence and hope for the future.

Deepak’s journey of recovery as he learns to walk

Deepak, aged five, suffered-life changing burn injuries when he was just six months old.  Left to sleep near the warm fire while his parents worked, he woke up and crawled too close, suffering dreadful burns to his legs.

The early years of Deepak’s life have been full of hospital treatment and complex surgeries. He lost the use of both legs, and the family lost all the money they had saved. Neighbours started to gossip about Deepak and stigmatise the family over the child’s disability, which they saw as a curse. His parents were heartbroken.

In 2023, an INF disability screening camp came to his home district of Rolpa, as part of the Community Medical Outreach project made possible by INF UK supporters.

Deepak was then referred to INF’s Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara, where, for the first time, he learned to walk.

During his 28-day stay at Green Pastures, he bonded well with the staff and was fitted with prostheses for both his legs. One day, a huge milestone occurred in his rehabilitation – he managed to walk a few steps! With the aid of the prosthetic limbs, Deepak gradually transitioned from crawling to walking, running, and engaging in various physical activities. Deepak got his legs back.

He now goes to school, plays with other children, and performs daily tasks with ease. He’s a resilient and happy five year-old. His amazing rehabilitation has silenced the gossip and challenged the neighbours’ views about disability.

Learn more about the work of INF in Nepal or support the work of Green Pastures Hospital on the INF UK website https://www.inf.org.uk/.