Kanti Children's Hospital Appeal Fund (KCHAF)

UK Registered Charity No: 1074705

KCHAF is a UK-based charity that helps poor families and their sick children at Kanti Children's Hospital in a variety of ways.

Introduction

KCHAF was formed in 1998 by final year medical student Bianca Muthesius during her elective study period at KCH. The inspiration and initial donation came from her mother. KCHAF became a registered charity in March 1999. It has three trustees: Prof Anna Muthesius, Dr Bianca Muthesius and Dr Samantha Jefferson. A twice-yearly newsletter is produced to keep supporters up to date with the charity's progress.

Over the last six years KCHAF has grown to be a much valued and utilised resource at KCH.

Medicine cabinets

Located in the Emergency, Burns, Medical, Surgical, Oncology, Intensive Care and Neonatal Units, these cabins provide 24 hour access to free medicines for families who can not afford to buy the medicines their children require.

Immediate relief fund

This fund provides small amounts of money for additional expenses faced by families whilst their children are at KCH for example CT scans, blood transfusions, food for families and transport home. This is the only readily accessible source for small - but vital - sums of money and helps the children of poor families to remain in hospital for long enough to complete their treatment.

Burns Unit Project

KCHAF has organised and funded an ongoing multidisciplinary project in the Burns Unit at Kanti Hospital. Exchange visits have been facilitated between burns specialists from the UK and Kanti Hospital. In addition, refurbishment of the burns unit at KCH has been made possible. These achievements have resulted in practical and sustainable improvements in the care of severely burned Nepali children.

Furthermore, a burns unit play room has been started to encourage mobilization and physiotherapy through play, and an improved nutritional programme has been set up. This work has been funded by the National Lottery, and has been presented to an enthusiastic audience at a recent international conference for burns experts.

One child's story

A 3 year old boy was brought from a remote village to the emergency room at Kanti Children's Hospital. He had been suffering from a cough and fever for a month. At the beginning of his illness he had been treated by his local health center but he had not recovered. He developed a high fever, difficulty in breathing and he lost his appetite.

The local health post staff advised his parents to take him to Kanti Hospital. They sold two hens in order to finance the journey to Kathmandu.

The little boy was seen free of charge in the emergency department at Kanti. Investigations showed a large collection of pus in his chest. This was drained. Further strong antibiotics were needed to clear the infection. These are not provided by the hospital and his parents could not afford to buy them.

The doctors report how the little boy's mother was crying on the ward as she thought she would have to take her child home without further treatment. KCHAF provided the medicine from the Emergency Medicines Cabinet and the Immediate Relief Fund to assist his family. He made a good recovery.

How to support KCHAF

KCHAF relies on the generosity of its supporters to fund the projects described above. Donations come from individuals, companies, churches, direct debits and events organized by KCHAF. None of the money raised is spent on administration or publicity. As a registered charity KCHAF can reclaim tax on donations.

Donating money to KCHAF is very easy, especially if you live in the UK. For details, please email sponsor@nepalelective.org. You can also sponsor this site by buying advertising space (all proceeds go to Nepal).

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