Heart Screening of School children at Kathmandu Metropolitan City
On June 18 and 19, 2026, the Nepal Heart Foundation (NHF), in coordination with the NHF Kathmandu Branch, and Kathmandu Janaswastha office successfully conducted a comprehensive heart screening program in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
A total of 4,268 students from four schools in Kathmandu district underwent initial cardiac screening using stethoscopes. During the screening, experienced physicians carefully listened for abnormal heart murmurs, an important indicator of underlying heart disease. Students with suspected abnormal findings underwent a second clinical assessment, and 76 students were subsequently examined using a portable echocardiography (echo) machine to obtain accurate diagnoses.
The screening and echocardiographic assessments were carried out by a dedicated multidisciplinary medical team comprising Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi, Dr. Prem Raj Baidya, Dr. Urmila Shakya, Dr. Rajendra Koju, Dr. Ram Kishor Shah, Dr. Radha Bhattarai, Dr. Jigyasa Regmi, Dr. Shishir Shrestha, Dr. Saurav Shrestha, Dr. Anjela Baidya, RN Anmol Maharjan, HA Mohan Man Shrestha, RN Nirmala Devkota, RN Nijita Poudyal, CMA Sharada Maharjan, CMA Neeru Shrestha, and CMA Anju Silakar, with valuable support from volunteers Mr. Keshab Prasad Dhakal, Ms. Upasana Regmi, Ms. Bimala Maharjan, Mr. Mahen Shrestha, Mr. Ramesh Dhoj Basnet, Mr. Yam Kumar Karki, and Mr. Sudan Bajracharya.
The echocardiographic evaluations were carried out by Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi, Dr. Rajendra Koju, Dr. Urmila Shakya, and Dr. Jigyasa Regmi. The examinations identified 31 students with heart disease, including 5 cases of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) and 26 cases of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).
Among the diagnosed students, 9 children were found to require surgical intervention and were referred to Lalitpur Heart Clinic for comprehensive evaluation and further management. In addition, all 5 students diagnosed with RHD were provided Penicillin VK for secondary prophylaxis to prevent disease progression and reduce the risk of recurrent rheumatic fever.
This school-based screening program highlights the importance of early detection of heart disease in children through systematic community outreach. By combining clinical examination with portable echocardiography, the initiative enabled timely diagnosis, referral, and treatment, helping to improve long-term health outcomes for children who might otherwise have remained undiagnosed. The program reflects Nepal Heart Foundation’s continued commitment to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease through preventive screening, early intervention, and access to appropriate care.
