Health assistant: Nyima Lhamo Gurung

Nyima Lhamo Gurung was born on April 23, 2003 and grew up in Shey Phoksundo, Dolpo, at 3660 meters above sea level in western Nepal.

Education and motivation
Nyima was able to attend the Tapriza School in Chunwar in Upper Dolpo. The school is located at an altitude of around 3,000 meters in an east-west facing section of the valley surrounded by steep slopes. In the winter months from November to February, it is too cold to teach in the unheated rooms; the regular school year therefore runs from March to November.

"I have seen several times how patients could not be treated and most treatments are too expensive for the majority of villagers. As a health assistant, I will be able to offer affordable help quickly," says Nyima, explaining her career aspirations.

Training as a Health Assistant*
The Certificate in General Practice (or Health Assistant) is a three-year program designed to provide mid-level health professionals who can assist the rural community in providing health care.

*Source: https://edusanjal.com/course/health-assistant-ha-ctevt/ retrieved on December 04, 2021

Funding
In general, school education in Nepal should be paid for by the state; only a few pupils receive scholarships to finance further education or university. In reality, school and secondary education in Nepal is unaffordable for poorer families, especially in structurally weak regions.

Nyima's school has so far been financed by the Swiss Tapriza Association. During her training as a Health Assistant, she can continue to live in the Taprizia School hostel. DolpoCare financed Nyima's training as a Health Assistant, which cost around CHF 3000.