By Prakash Khadka, Caritas Nepal
Ganga Pathak, 24 is an assistant health worker and operates the Outpatient Department services at Thokarpa health post, while co-worker Rewati Thapa, 20 handles delivery cases.
On 25 April both of them were treating patients when earthquake hit district. They immediately ran out in the field, as the adjoining block fell down in front of their eyes.
They tried to phone their parents in faraway village, but could not get through to them.
The very next day, when telephone service partially resumed, Ganga received the devastating news of her mother’s death. Their family villages of Sangachok and Jalbire were among the worst hit by the earthquake.
But the real story begins when they have to look after numbers of injured people in such a devastating situation.
These two brave young women, without losing hope, continued their service to humanity, understanding the urgency of time.
“I did lose my mother whom I can’t bring back, but I have to make my heart strong as I should fulfil my responsibilities towards those who managed to survive here,” said Ganga.
Thokarpa health post was without staff for last two years before Ganga and Rewati were temporarily appointed. It was the first job for both of them, beginning just seven months earlier.
In the course of a month, they alone have been able to treat more than 400 villagers in the health post despite severe shortages in basic medicines after earthquake.
Injuries have increased even after earthquake, as people tried to clear debris and get their things back.
They have also successfully handled two delivery cases, with three more in the queue this month. They also sadly attended one miscarriage – an intra-uterine death which resulted from the earthquake.
Out of love and compassion, the two girls are devoting all their efforts to their work.
“We don’t want to refer people out to the big hospital if we can treat them ourselves; especially poorer ones who come here trusting us, so they will not have to worry about expenses.” they said.
They console themselves by the service they provided.
“During the day, we forget our sorrows by treating people. But by the night, we too deadly miss our homes and dear ones. That makes us sad, but we are not only victims here,” they said.
Both Ganga and Rewati will be assisting at a Caritas supported Health Camp in Thokarpa, Sindhupalchowk.