In Nepal - Devi Ma Kunja
and Rural Ayurveda Hospital
Imagine a place where quality Ayurvedic care is available to all, in a healthy natural setting and at a cost according to their means?
Expand this vision to include a thirty-bed Ayurvedic hospital with a family planning and birthing center, gardens where medicinal herbs are grown, an herbal pharmacy, and a place which serves as a cross-cultural educational and retreat center for an international community of holistic healthcare practitioners and students. Include also the vision of a center focusing on sustainability an all levels by maintaining the integrity and diversity of the cultural heritage of Ayurveda.
The seeds of such a place now exist in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, the traditional birthplace of Ayurveda. It is called the Devi Ma Kunja, and is the manifesting dream of Dr. Sarita Shrestha. A "Kunja" means a holistic, serene place filled with positive energy, and "Devi Ma" is the Universal Mother.
Dr. Shrestha is well qualified to be the force behind a center with such an ambitious name. She faced discrimination while pursuing her medical degree. She was told by the principal of the university, " Women cannot become doctors. You should quit now before you begin." Her response was, "I will try". She tried and succeeded. Today she is considered a national treasure and has received national and international recognition for her exceptional services and was Nepal's first woman Ayurvedic physician and the first Nepalese Ob/Gyn in Ayurveda. Her accomplishments and dedication to selfless service have inspired other Nepalese women to follow in her footsteps and succeed in becoming doctors themselves.
Dr. Shrestha saw a lack of compassionate care available to many in Nepal, as well as a heavy emphasis placed on allopathic medicines even though Ayurvedic herbs are abundant through-out Nepal. There are only 2 Ayurvedic hospitals in all of Nepal and the government runs both of these, so they are often poorly supplied and staffed. Dr. Shrestha's dedication is a response to a growing need. Frequently she does not accept payment for her services. On rare days off she travels to remote villages, giving free health camps, education and medicine or free clinics in Kathmandu. She also travels to India to volunteer her services to the children at Sri Ram Orphanage in Haridwar as well as local residents. She is training a group of doctors to provide healthcare there on a regular basis. She regularly travels abroad, teaching Ayurveda, consulting and raising support and donations to build the hospital to supply Nepal's poorest with medicine and care. She is truly an inspiration.
The Devi Ma Kunja is a unique approach to meeting the extensive healthcare needs of Nepalis. While providing profoundly needed healthcare, it will also function as a unique laboratory illustrating "Ayurveda in action", for an international community of practitioners and students who will be welcomed to work and learn within this Nepali-run center. The clinical program of the Kunja officially opened its doors to patients in December, 2002. As of now, the clinic is housed in a 6 room rented building in Sipadole, near Bhaktipur, Nepal - a rural community of about 8,000 people, 18 km from Kathmandu. The clinic contains 2 recovery beds, a birthing bed, 2 outpatient rooms, a yoga room and a small garden to supplement the wild herbs collected, and a pharmacy. It provides greatly needed and previously unavailable healthcare services and educational self-care programs to local villagers.
The Devi Ma Kunja is pregnant with possibilities as a holistic model of Ayurvedic healthcare. Very simply, the mission is to provide sustainable healthcare to the people while supporting the natural environment on which their continuing well-being depends. In the words of Dr. Shrestha "Playing is healing, singing and dancing are healing, being in nature is healing. All of these healing ways will be found within the community of the Devi Ma Kunja for all people."
SO LITTLE GOES SUCH A LONG WAY! A contribution of ANY amount will help to support these important on-going services, and will be fully tax deductible. Please participate in the development of its future!
For more information contact:
Kay Brownfield at kay@growingedge.org
or call 831.402.7577.
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The DMK Rural Ayurveda Hospital has been housed in a rented building in Sipadole since 2003 and financially supported since 2000 through The Growing Edge For Sustainable Peace and Healing.
A California non- profit 501(c)(3) organization and by the generosity of Dr. Shrestha, her staff, friends, family, and many generous donors. Today, the operational cost of keeping the hospital open at its current level of service is approx $2,000. per mo / $24,000 US annually. Additional financial support comes from health education and Panch Karma programs.
In spring 2009, a new 4-wheel drive Tata truck was purchased ($30,000. US) and has a balance owing of $24,000. US. This much needed vehicle allows the organization to provide transportation of supplies and people along a dirt road between town and village, and to have access into the remote villages to serve health camps, offer disaster medical support, and doubles as an ambulance if needed.
A seven acre parcel (14 Nepal ropani) of land purchased in 2005 for $55,000 will provide DMK a permanent home in Sipadole. Payments were completed in 2009. The initial foundation for building has begun, with the first structure expected to be competed in 2010. We need an additional $250,000.US. to complete phase one of the building project.
How Can you Help?
We appreciate all levels of support for the following: Back to top
> Land & Building Project
To initiate next steps (fencing, architect and engineering fees, permits) and provide for all future development.
> Medical Equipment
Microscope, portable x-ray and ultrasound machine, diabetic diagnostic tools.
> Hopsital Operational Costs
Funding to support ongoing activities and increase services.
> Pharmacy
Equipment such as dryers, processors and furances.
> Scholarships
Support Nepalese Ayurveda medical students.
> Outreach Programs
Funds for medicine and supplies (one health camp costs $450 U.S.)