2019 - 2020 TRIP

In December 2019, Project Aasha visited Biratnagar, Morang, Jhapu and Kathmandu in Nepal

The team led by Dr Rupesh Agrawal, Dr Gayathri Devi D/O Nadarajan and Dr Kumaran Rasappan, comprised of Mr Hakim Lim, a Physiotherapist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, 5 Physiotherapy students from Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and 15 Medical students from Lee Kong Chian (LKC) School of Medicine.

In Nepal, the team visited Birat Eye Hospital, Shree Purwanchal Vidhyalaya Gyanchakshu School of the Visually Impaired and Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN). The team also made recce visits to Kabir Secondary School, Saraswati Secondary School, and Central Secondary School for the Deaf.

BIRAT EYE HOSPITAL

A team of doctors from Singapore was led by Dr Rupesh Agrawal and consisted of Dr Nathan Xu, Dr Sandy Zhou, Dr Gloria Song and Dr Song Wenjun. Alongside the doctors from Singapore were surgeons from Birat Eye Hospital (BEH) , led by Dr Anadi. Together, they successfully completed a total of 506 cataract surgeries over the course of four days, surpassing last year’s record of 200 surgeries. Our medical students got to understand the whole flow of the hospital processes and were even able to observe the cataract surgeries up close. Our physiotherapy students conducted physiotherapy assessments for patients in the waiting areas, identify common musculoskeletal complaints and taught simple exercises to alleviate their pain.

OPTOMETRIST AT THE HOSPITAL

An optometrist checking patient records on a vision screener in his office

EYE CHECK EQUIPMENT

Our medical students learnt how to operate standard eye exam tools used by both optometrists and ophthalmologists during their examinations, under the guidance of BEH staff

OPERATING ROOM

The operating room which was packed on the last day of the surgical camp

CATARACT SURGERY PATIENT

A patient with reversible blindness undergoing cataract eye surgery

PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSESSMENT

Our physiotherapy students conducted physical assessments on patients at the waiting areas. Given that many of the patients are engaged in the agriculture industry and have physically-demanding jobs, these musculoskeletal conditions often hinder their ability toperform their jobs well.

PROJECT AASHA GROUP PHOTO

A commemorative photo of the full Project Aasha team who visited BEH

OPTOMETRIST AT THE HOSPITAL

An optometrist checking patient records on a vision screener in his office

EYE CHECK EQUIPMENT

Our medical students learnt how to operate standard eye exam tools used by both optometrists and ophthalmologists during their examinations, under the guidance of BEH staff

OPERATING ROOM

The operating room which was packed on the last day of the surgical camp

CATARACT SURGERY PATIENT

A patient with reversible blindness undergoing cataract eye surgery

SHREE PURWANCHAL VIDHYALAYA GYANCHAKSHU SCHOOL OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Project Aasha conducted First Aid and Physiotherapy teaching sessions for 60 visually impaired students over 2 days. This programme aimed to address the high incidence of injuries and musculoskeletal problems faced by the students due to their visual impairments, as well as teaching them lifelong skills. The focus of the First Aid programme was to equip the students with manageable, basic first aid skills for them to perform on themselves and their peers in times of need. The programme consisted of both theoretical and practical aspects. The main objectives of the Physiotherapy teaching session were to educate the students on long-term management of secondary visual impairment, as well as to promote physical activity through modified versions of popular sports and games, making it safer for their participation.

WELCOMED BY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

The school principal warmly welcomed Project Aasha on the first day of the 2-day teaching programme.

STUDENTS WAITING FOR PROGRAMME TO BEGIN

Students chatting excitedly while getting ready for the First Aid programme to kickstart.

SKIT PERFORMANCE

The team dressed up in mascots and performed a skit at the start of the First Aid programme.

MASCOTS ENGAGING WITH STUDENTS

A student interacting with one of our mascots for his very first time. Mascots were used to engage the attention of students with visual impairments.

SMALL GROUP TEACHING

The students were split into smaller groups of 4 to 5. 2 medical students and 1 translator were tagged to each group for a focused group teaching session.

TRIANGLE BANDAGE LESSON

Our medical student introducing a triangular bandage in our first aid kit to a student with visual impairment. A first aid kit was hand-packed and given to every student of the school.

HAVING FUN DURING TEACHING

A student enjoying himself during the First Aid teaching session.

TYING ARM SLING

A student with visual impairment having hands-on practice of tying an arm sling on one of our medical student.

DAILY STRETCHES

Students demonstrating some of their stretches they do on a daily basis.

TEACHING NEW STRETCHES

Our physiotherapy students teaching new stretches to students so as to alleviate their common musculoskeletal aches.

CORRECTING POSTURE

One of our physiotherapy students correcting the posture and form of the stretch of a student with visual impairment.

PLAYING GOALBALL

Students playing “Goalball”, a modified version of soccer, with our physiotherapy students.

OBSTACLE COURSE ACTIVITY

Students crossing a make-shift obstacle course guided by one of our physiotherapy students.

GROUP PHOTO

Project Aasha at the end of the 2 day teaching programme. We look forward to further collaborations in the near future.

WELCOMED BY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

The school principal warmly welcomed Project Aasha on the first day of the 2-day teaching programme.

STUDENTS WAITING FOR PROGRAMME TO BEGIN

Students chatting excitedly while getting ready for the First Aid programme to kickstart.

SKIT PERFORMANCE

The team dressed up in mascots and performed a skit at the start of the First Aid programme.

MASCOTS ENGAGING WITH STUDENTS

A student interacting with one of our mascots for his very first time. Mascots were used to engage the attention of students with visual impairments.

SMALL GROUP TEACHING

The students were split into smaller groups of 4 to 5. 2 medical students and 1 translator were tagged to each group for a focused group teaching session.

TRIANGLE BANDAGE LESSON

Our medical student introducing a triangular bandage in our first aid kit to a student with visual impairment. A first aid kit was hand-packed and given to every student of the school.

HAVING FUN DURING TEACHING

A student enjoying himself during the First Aid teaching session.

TYING ARM SLING

A student with visual impairment having hands-on practice of tying an arm sling on one of our medical student.

BLIND YOUTH ASSOCIATION NEPAL

Project Aasha visited Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN), a rights-based organisation that aims to advocate for the rights of visually-impaired persons in Nepal. Since 2015, they have been working on various projects in 9 district chapters, across the 7 different provinces throughout Nepal. Out of the 89 integrated schools in Nepal, BYAN’s efforts has reached 18-20 of them, 10 of them are earthquake-affected. Through the conversations with 11 youths with visual impairments and the BYAN staff, we managed to glean some important insights into the achievements and challenges experienced by BYAN as well as to establish partnership for future collaborations.

WELCOME CEREMONY

BYAN staff warmly welcoming Project Aasha with khatas.

BRAILLE SLATE

BYAN staff explaining the process of manually writing braille texts using braille tools.

SHARING BY BYAN MEMBERS

Project Aasha interacting with BYAN members in focused group discussions. We managed to learn more about their personal experiences and how they overcome challenges they face due to their visual impairments.

GROUP PHOTO

The team in the BYAN headquarters after the focused group discussions

WELCOME CEREMONY

BYAN staff warmly welcoming Project Aasha with khatas.

BRAILLE SLATE

BYAN staff explaining the process of manually writing braille texts using braille tools.

SHARING BY BYAN MEMBERS

RECCE TRIPS

Project Aasha visited three different schools around Morang, Jhapu and Kathmandu, namely Kabir Secondary School, Saraswati Secondary School and the Central Campus of the Deaf (Kathmandu). We discussed with the schools’ leaders their most pressing needs and possible collaborations with them. We also explored the possibility of adapting our first aid curriculum at Shree Purwanchal Vidhyalaya Gyanchakshu School for the Visually Impaired to suit the needs of these schools, taking into account the different student demographics.

We had the honour of speaking with two representatives from Kabir Secondary School: Mr Hemchandra Timisina, a teacher for subjects at the primary level, as well as Mr Narendra, a school management committee member who also served as a representative from the school’s parent group. We also had the opportunity to meet with the stand-in Principal of Saraswati Secondary School and some of the visually impaired students who were on-campus at the time of our visit. These 2 schools are integrated schools which consist of both non-visually impaired and visually impaired students.

Last but not least, the team managed to visit the Central Secondary School for the Deaf. The meeting with Principal Upendra to discuss possible collaborations gave us a fresh perspective on life as a student with disabilities other than visual impairment. This will be important for us if we envision curricula that can empower students regardless of ailments or struggles.

KABIR SECONDARY SCHOOL RECCE

Project Aasha went to Kabir Secondary School for recce. We were also heartened to get the opportunity to have a chat with four students in the hostel, all of whom were visually impaired.

SARASWATI SECONDARY SCHOOL RECCE

Project Aasha went to Saraswati Secondary School for recce.

SARASWATI SECONDARY SCHOOL PHYSIOTHERAPY

Our physiotherapy students taught students from Saraswati Secondary School a few simple stretching exercises after learning that they experience muscle aches and tightness.

CENTRAL SECONDARY SCHOOL CLASSES

Students from Central Secondary School for the Deaf attending their afternoon class.

PHOTO AT CENTRAL SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

Project Aasha visited Central Secondary School for the Deaf to learn more about their needs and possibility of modifying our first aid curriculum for them.