Physicians for Human Rights Student Program

WHO IS PHR-IOM?

​

PHR-IOM is a group of motivated medical students from the Institute Of Medicine (IOM), Nepal who are actively working in their community to improve the standard of living of refugees in rural and urban settings of Nepal.

​

WHAT IS THEIR VISION?

 

PHR-IOM Medical students are committed to uplifting all the dimensions of health for refugee populations in Nepal by spearheading projects that promote physical, mental and social well-being.

​

WHO DO THEIR PROJECTS SUPPORT?

​

Their projects aim to serve the 9000 Bhutanese refugees in eastern part of Nepal and 545 urban refugees in Kathmandu.The majority of these urban refugees are Muslims from Myanmar, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

​

HOW DO THEY SUPPORT REFUGEE HEALTH?

​

For the last year, PHR-IOM medical students have been conducting free health camps for refugees. Health camps offer general health check ups, distribute medicines and provide health counseling to refugee families.

​

PHR-IOM Nepal has also begun a Family Health and Family Planning Campaign for Muslim urban refugees, among whom contraceptive prevalence rate is low. The project aims to combat cultural taboos regarding contraceptive use and provide awareness about family planning methods. PHR-IOM Medical students have conducted 2 campaigns in the past year.

 

Lastly, in the wake of the April 2015 earthquake, the PHR-IOM chapter identified the need for sanitation awareness among refugees and their children within urban camps. Their earthquake relief project included building temporary toilets, sanitation education, and food and blanket distribution to 110 families affected by the earthquake. 

​

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

​

PHR-IOM has accomplished much to address the great need for refugee health services in Nepal in the short duration they have been operating. Yet, the organization headed by medical student, Kamal Pandit, envision a greater scope of their impact to include preventative health education and mental health services. Future projections include First Aid and Basic Life Support Training to prepare refugees with hands-on training in disaster management, and establishing a psychosocial therapy center for refugees for the 50% of refugees suffering from issues of anxiety and depression.

​