Report on Heart Health Camp, Heart Screening of School Children and Public Awareness in Sotang, Solukhumbu

Report on Heart Health Camp, Heart Screening of School Children and Public Awareness in Sotang, Solukhumbu

Dec, Mon, 2025
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Awarness Program , Heart Camp , Heart Screening , Solukhumbu

In Coordination with Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, Friends of Chepel Foundation, Rotary Club of Patan, and Medicare Hospital

Background

The Nepal Heart Foundation (NHF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, control, and management of heart diseases in Nepal through clinical services, community outreach, research, training, and public awareness initiatives. NHF has an extensive nationwide presence and is actively working across all provinces of Nepal, with a strong grassroots network consisting of 62 district branches and 15ad-hoc committees. Through this wide network, NHF implements community-based screening programs, school heart screening initiatives, awareness campaigns, and referral services, particularly focusing on underserved and hard-to-reach populations. Its nationwide reach enables NHF to bridge critical gaps in cardiac care and promote early detection and prevention of heart diseases throughout the country.

Solukhumbu District, situated in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal, covers an area of approximately 3,312 square kilometers. The district is predominantly rural, with scattered settlements and a diverse ethnic population largely dependent on subsistence agriculture. Due to its rugged terrain, limited road connectivity, and challenging geographical conditions, access to healthcare services, especially specialized care is extremely difficult. Many communities must travel long distances, often on foot, to reach basic health facilities, making early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease a significant challenge.

Sotang Village, one of the remote areas of Solukhumbu District, faces acute healthcare access limitations due to poor road infrastructure and limited health facilities. Specialized investigations such as ECG and echocardiography are largely unavailable locally, underscoring the importance of outreach health camps to address unmet health needs.

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Heart health checkup in Solukhumbu district 2082-9-11

Objectives of the Program

To deliver medical consultation and basic cardiac services to approximately 300 individuals, including clinical examination and treatment for heart-related conditions, advanced cardiac investigations, approximately 100 echocardiography tests and 100 ECG tests, for early detection and accurate diagnosis of heart diseases.
To screen approximately 2,000 school students using clinical examination and stethoscope-based heart auscultation and detailed echocardiographic evaluation for approximately 200 students identified with suspected cardiac abnormalities.
To enhance community awareness on heart disease prevention, healthy lifestyle practices, and the importance of early diagnosis through interactive education sessions.
To strengthen coordination between local health stakeholders and specialized cardiac institutions for sustainable heart care services in the district.

Activities

A. Heart Health Camp

A Free Heart Health Camp was organized over two days in Solukhumbu District, on December 15, 2025, in Sotang Village, and on December 16, 2025, at Chepel, Solukhumbu. A total of 460 local people benefited from the camp, with 414 individuals examined in Sotang and 46 individuals examined in Chepel.

Comprehensive clinical evaluations were conducted during the camp. Eighty-three patients received ECG testing, and 150 patients underwent echocardiography for detailed cardiac assessment. In addition, blood sugar levels of 380 individuals were tested to screen for diabetes. All patients received medical consultation and appropriate treatment based on their clinical findings.

The disease distribution among patients revealed a high burden of non-communicable diseases. Sixty patients were diagnosed with hypertension, 20% with diabetes, 5% with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), 5% with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), and 10% with other heart-related conditions. Additionally, other health conditions were identified, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in 40% of patients and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in 30% of patients, highlighting the need for integrated healthcare services.

As part of the heart health camp activities, medicines worth NRs. 1,50,000 were distributed by the Nepal Heart Foundation, while medicines worth NRs. 5,00,000 were distributed by Lomus Pharmaceuticals, ensuring continuity of care for patients diagnosed during the camp.

B. School Heart Screening Program

On December 16, 2025, a school-based heart screening program was conducted across 10 schools in Solukhumbu District. Two groups were made to screening in two different locations of Solukhumbu, one group stayed in schools of Sotang while as another group moved to Hulu of the Solukhumbu, so as to save time. A total of 2,005 students underwent preliminary heart screening using stethoscopes to detect abnormal heart murmurs.

Students suspected of having cardiac abnormalities were further examined using a portable echocardiography machine, with 205 students receiving detailed echocardiographic evaluation. The screening was conducted by a specialist medical team comprising Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi, Dr. Urmila Shakya, Dr. Ajay Adhikari, and Dr. Anjela Baidya.

Following detailed assessment, 22 students were diagnosed with heart disease, including 2 cases of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) and 20 cases of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). Among them, 4 students required surgical intervention and were referred to Kathmandu for further evaluation and management.

C. Public Awareness Program

An interactive public awareness program was organized on December 15, 2025, with the participation of 30 local community members. Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi delivered an educational session on Lifestyle and Heart Diseases, emphasizing prevention, early detection, and lifestyle modification.

The session was followed by a panel discussion, allowing participants to ask questions related to heart health and lifestyle practices. The panel included Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi, Dr. Prem Raj Baidya, Dr. Urmila Shakya, Dr. Ajay Adhikari, and Dr. Anjela Baidya. The interaction was highly engaging, and participants expressed satisfaction with the expert responses and guidance provided.

During the event, students were also provided with awareness sessions on heart diseases, with a specific focus on Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). RHD Educator Mr. Keshav Prasad Dhakal conducted two interactive classes among school students to enhance their understanding of RHD. The sessions covered the causes of RHD, the role of lifestyle and untreated throat infections in its development, and preventive measures that students can adopt to reduce the risk of developing RHD.

Coordination and Partnership

The program was organized by the Nepal Heart Foundation in coordination with the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, NHF Solukhumbu Branch, Friends of Chepel Foundation, Rotary Club of Patan, and Medicare Hospital, with valuable local support from Khilraj Basnet, Ek Kumari Karki, Karma Sherpa, Tara Kumar Rai, Shyam Kumar Rai, and Jaaga Bahadur Gurung.

The Free Heart Health Camp, heart screening of school children and awareness program significantly contributed to early detection, treatment, and prevention of heart diseases in Solukhumbu District. By reaching remote communities, screening school children, and promoting heart-healthy lifestyles, the initiative addressed critical healthcare gaps and reinforced the importance of preventive and community-based cardiac care in geographically challenging regions.