Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Centre of Excellence
We worked on funding this project with Dr. Arun Kumar a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Nepal.
The population of Nepal is about 30 million, and 40% of the population is younger than 18 years (estimated to be about 12 million). It is thought that about 15 – 20 % of the child population suffers from some form of mental health problems. If children need admission to a hospital due to a psychiatric illness, they are often housed in an adult psychiatric inpatient facility, which is against international standards and a violation of children rights.
Children and adolescents who suffer from severe psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar / unipolar depression, are often kept at home in isolation from the world, due to social stigma. It is not unusual to see every now and then news about children with severe mental health problems often chained to a bed post, or even locked in a room for years at times. Probably, this is just the top of the iceberg. The real sufferings of children and adolescents with severe mental disorders may be a lot worse.
Dr. Arun is supported with running costs and clinical support from Norwegian colleagues from the Norwegian Psychiatric Association for this present clinic.
The project was coordinated by CWIN which is a national Nepalese charity that works mainly with Street Children. FORUT a Norwegian NGO also became a main funder for this project in conjunction with TOUCH Ireland.
The aim was to develop the clinic into a National Centre of Excellence in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Members of TOUCH Ireland met with Arun in Nepal and he explained his vision and goal to provide a better service for children and adolescent with psychiatric issues.
The project now consists of:
- Outpatients Clinic
- Inpatient Ward
- Training Centre & Administration
Wednesday 6th January 2021 was the day history was made – Inauguration of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Centre at Kanti Children’s Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
This was the first dedicated Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Centre in Nepal!
Phoenix House, Kathmandu, Nepal
This project was funded through TOUCH Ireland from the Shiva Gautam’s Monty’s Restaurant ‘Help Nepal Rise Again’ Fund. The project was carried out in association with the ‘Twin Otters Foundation’ (https://www.facebook.com/TwinOtters/) and coordinated in Kathmandu by our good TOUCH Nepal friends Dinesh Khadka and Birendra Dawadi.
The Twin Otters Foundation (TTOF) The Foundation was established by individuals who have themselves been victims of poverty and drug abuse as children. The objective of the foundation solely rests on helping children who have been victims of extreme poverty and harassment which led them to the ill ways of life.
“Charity begins on the street when you are homeless.” This was new project for TOUCH Ireland in Nepal. This is a home for Street Children in Kathmandu, orphaned after the Earthquake in 2015.
Phoenix House consists of 2 dormitories, kitchen, bathroom, toilets, store room and guardians room.
On 14th February 2019, the children were shifted to The Twin Otters Phoenix House. Great Joy and happiness for the children. These children now have a great chance at a good future.
