Doctor wanted for a project in Achham, Nepal

The international NGO Nyaya Health ( www.nyayahealth.org) is looking for an MBBS physician with at least two years of post-graduate training experience to work as a primary care and public health clinician in Sanfe Bagar, a rural
area in the district of Achham, Nepal.  There are opportunities both for a long-term posting and for short-term mission-type postings of 6-10 weeks.  The next short-term posting is from 17 Marg to 2 Chaitra (1 Feb to 15 March).  The long-term posting would begin within the next six months.

Nyaya Health is an international NGO partnering with the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal and the District Health Office of Achham to improve healthcare infrastructure in Achham.  Achham is a rural agricultural district with some of Nepal's highest poverty, infant mortality, maternal mortality, and HIV rates.  The mission of the project is two-fold: to establish essential public health services in one of Nepal's most underdeveloped areas, and to develop a model of scaling-up and management of health services in remote areas. We are currently developing a primary health centre focusing on antenatal care, normal deliveries, provision of basic emergency obstetric care, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and pediatric care.
With assistance from the computing company AMD and from the Open Architecture Network, we are constructing a telecommunications center to develop telemedicine applications, improve communication with village-based community healthworkers, and expand internet access in the region.  Within the next year, we plan on expanding operations to
a long-abandoned government hospital in Bayalpata, with the aim of providing comprehensive emergency obstetric care and inpatient services.

A competitive applicant would be fluent in Nepali or a native Hindi
speaker willing to learn Nepali quickly. S/he would also have some
obstetrical, pediatric, and minor surgical experience and have some
public health training or orientation.  HIV and TB experience is also
a plus.  The applicant would also have an interest in social justice,
healthcare for the poor, and rural healthcare.  Compensation will be
between 40,000-70,000 Rs. Nepali per month depending upon the
applicant's experience and qualifications, the length of the contract,
and provision of educational opportunities and other incentives.  The
duration of the contract would ideally be at least for one year,
although shorter or longer may be considered.

For the first year the main capacities of the clinic will include
medical treatment of common primary care conditions, minor orthopedic,
dermatologic, and surgical procedures, and routine prenatal care and
delivery.   Diagnostic capacity will include several point-of-care
diagnostic tests; basic laboratory with spun hematocrit, CBC, basic
serum chemistries, urine and stool studies, AFB, and gram stain; and,
depending on experience, ultrasound.  Key duties will include
provision of clinical care, oversight of public health programs,
collaborating with government agencies for supplies, and managing
clinic staff and operations.    There will be opportunities eventually
to take part in operations research.

Living quarters in Sanfe are simple but clean with reliable water and
intermittent electricity, phone service, and internet.  Although
subject to negotiation, the medical director will be allowed to spend
30 days each year away from Sanfe.  Support for
educational and training activities can be provided.

The opportunity is exciting to shape the clinic in the way that he or
she sees fit, with some guidelines set forth by Nyaya Health.  There
are four guidelines in particular that are not subject to change: 1)
given the overwhelming evidence that point-of-care user fees are a
formidable barrier to healthcare access, we seek to minimize these;
2) no staff are allowed to partake in any private medical ventures
while employed by Nyaya Health; 3) doctors are expected to work
closely and respectfully with nursing and health assistant staff; 4)
all patients are to be treated respectfully and as  equals, regardless
of socioeconomic status.

Support and education will be available through senior physicians who
will come to the clinic periodically.  We will also be establishing
information technology/internet services so s/he can stay connected to
medical knowledge and dialogue with US-based colleagues at Yale
University on tough cases.  The doctor needs to be dynamic, driven,
and willing to work long hours in a very remote area of Nepal.

Physicians interested in attending residency in the United States are
welcome to apply; this is an excellent opportunity to dialogue with
and obtain references from top-notch international medical professors.

For physicians interested in staying in Nepal to work, this is a
great opportunity to work with a dynamic team in one of Nepal's most
challenging medical settings, and to provide essential services to the
people of Achham.

For more details - contact - Bijay Acharya - bijay@nyayahealth.org or Duncan Smith - dsr.maru@nyayahealth.org