Life Saving Volunteers in Nepal
Rescue Network Nepal (RNN) is a powerful example of the impact of community volunteers. It is difficult for poor and remote communities to access proper health care in Nepal. Rescue Network Nepal was formed in 2012 with the goal of making first aid knowledge accessible in remote corners of the country. Their model is simple, yet life saving: they provide basic emergency health training to volunteer citizens across Nepal. RNN is able to carry out their work on a ‘shoe-string budget’ because they are a volunteer society that is based upon the principle of ‘through the church to the community’. They are a fantastic example of ‘community centred development’.
Over the years RNN has provided 190 training sessions in different locations across the country. These workshops have trained a total of 4217 First Responders from 940 different community social organizations such as churches, schools and community gathering places. RNN provides the communities with first aid supplies and stretchers that remain out in these communities upon completion of the training. Many of these volunteers are treated like ‘doctors’ in their villages; one individual from Jhapa has assisted more than 100 people in his local community since he completed the training a few years ago.
Tasbir, an RNN trainee who lives in Surkhet and works in a wood factory, saved the life of a colleague. His friend was badly injured by a piece of machinery that fell on his thigh. Tasbir was able to stop the potentially fatal bleeding and administer first aid until the individual was transported to a medical facility.
Fractures and wound care training
Chandra, an RNN trainee from Itahari, recently saved the life of a woman in her community who fell off her bike and had a heart attack. Chandra was able to administer CPR and resuscitate the patient. Chandra saved this woman’s life.
CPR Training
During the pandemic RNN has also played a key role in providing relief to remote communities. Many families are without a source of income; RNN has managed to get much needed supplies into isolated areas.
RNN COVID relief efforts
The long-term goal of RNN is to spread this training so widely that it will form a network of trained attendants capable of assisting the transport of injured persons to hospitals all along the major roads of Nepal. The training conducted so far has been received with great enthusiasm in the communities, and RNN is currently working exceptionally hard to meet the soaring demand that their good work has created. By empowering marginalized communities to recognize what they ‘have’, the poor are inspired to work collectively to create their own positive change...and in some cases, saving precious lives.
If you are interested in learning more about Rescue Network Nepal, visit their website. And the link below also offers an interesting glimpse of their training:
Note: Since publishing this, we have been informed that many communities in Nepal have been affected by extreme flooding that happened in late August. RNN has been working tirelessly providing relief efforts to these communities. The people of Nepal are in our thoughts and prayers.