Nepal: Watabaran Mobile Health Service for street children

Child Watabaran Centre Nepal set up the Watabaran Mobile Health Service for Nepal’s street children, with a special focus on the slightly older boys who are no longer easy to reach, rejecting every kind of approach. These youths too, who cannot or do not accept regular aid any more, need to learn to care for themselves and each other. They need to know what hygiene is. That they shouldn’t bandage their wounds with plastic or dirty clothing, and that they shouldn’t try to stop bleeding with mud. The Watabaran Mobile Health Service wants to prevent epidemics, and safeguard the children from diseases such as scabies, typhoid, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. In order to achieve this, the Watabaran Mobile Health Service seeks out the children, and organises at least three health camps each year. They also hope that the contact with the health workers provides the children with a way back into society.

A team of nurses and pedagosists heads out to the places where the children sleep three times a week, providing first aid and basic health care. In 2007, Net4kids facilitated the acquisition of a new van used to provide these services. The operational costs are also covered, including the costs of the health camps. In 2007, 1157 children made use of the mobile service and the health camps. Many more children are ultimately reached, as these children pass on their knowledge and skills. The budget includes costs for the new van, a total of € 25,371.