Approaches to rural health and community development
As a part of the South-South
global health and development initiative, NSC is developing some research programs with the
Dhulikhel Hospital (KU)'s Global Health initiative. In particular, using the rural platform of the DH's community health clinics, we will be developing some projects in areas such as: micro finance, micro health insurance, enviromental conservation, health education, and community development.
In collaboration and support from the UNM-NSC's branch office in Kathmandu, our economics department students have conducted household surveys (focus group, defriefing, pretest, data entry).
Past and current research projects:
--> Hari Katuwal (graduate student, department of economics, UNM) conducted a survey (2009) on Bagmati River and water quality. This dissertation research is completed. Click
here for further information.
--> Menuka Karki (graduate student, department of economics, UNM) has been developing a project on sanitation management, practices and health implications (Summer 2012) using a representative sampling survey of Kathmandu. She uses choice experiment to solicitate preferences, and have focus on various other behavior, public health and public policy implications: knowledge and attitude regarding environment and public health; recycling behavior, health outcome, water treatment etc. (Spring 2012 - )
--> Kristina Piorkowski (Honors student, department of economics, UNM) is working on some aspects of rural health and community development approaches currently practiced in developing communities around the world (Summer 2012- Spring 2013).
School of Medicine, UNM:
Dr. David Watcher and Dr. Mark Hauswald (School of Medicine, UNM) have been interacting with the Director of Kathmandu University's Community Health Program Dr. Biraj Karmacharya to start a collaborative program on community health management and problem based learning modules.
Introduction to Global health: Nepal (School of Medicine, UNM)
Mark Hauswald MS MD from Emergency Medicine and Global Health, Nancy L.
Kerr MD MPH from Emergency Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology and
David Wachter MS MD from Emergency Medicine at UNM have made three
visits in the last year. They have been working with Suman Raj Tamrakar
MD and his colleagues from the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at
KU doing research to decrease post-partum hemorrhage. Funding has been
by a Grand Challenges Exploration Grant from the Bill and Malinda Gates
Foundation and Drs.Hauswald, Kerr and Tamrakar will be presenting their
results at the FIGO international Obstetrics meeting this fall in Rome.
Dr. Dale Alverson, Medical Director of the Center for Telehealth and Cybermedicine Research and Professor of Pediatrics and Regents Professor on faculty at the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, visited Kathmandu University to discuss collaborative ideas on developing telehealth system at KU. (March 11-12, 2010). For details, click
here
Dr. Alok K. Bohara was given a tour of the Teaching Hospital of Kathmandu University --Dhulikhel Hospotal (2009) and a health post
(Bahunpati). Please click here:
Report (scroll down for community health management report),
Photos.
RWJF Center at UNM:
The
RWJF Center at UNM helped NSC broadcast through internet it's first live coverage of its Fifth Annual Himalayan Policy Research Conference --Madison (
HPRC 2010).
Dr. Biraj Karmacharya's visit to UNM (June 21st - June 25th, 2012) has been supported by the RWJF Center at UNM. Director of KU's Community Health Program, Dr. Karmacharya's visit focuses on sharing his experience about the KU Dhulikhel Hospital's microfinance and health initiative. Click
here for details.
ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNM
Professor Gautam Vora of Anderson School Management (UNM) visited Kathmandu University for a short workshop at Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM), Summer 2010
Professor Emeritus Jeanne Logsdon of Anderson School of Management (UNM) visited Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) in summer of 2011 and held discussion with the Dean Professor KC and the KUSOM faculty. [faculty research and publication adivse and book donation]
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS, UNM
Graduate Student Field Research in Nepal:
Graduate student Hari Katuwal of the Department of Economics (UNM) used NSC-UNM branch office at Kathmandu University to conduct focus group and other survey research related logistics (Summer 2009).
Graduate student Menuka Karki of Department of Economic is conducting a survey research for her dissertation to study solid waste management and waste disposal of Kathmandu household. (Summer 2012).
Undergraduate Himalayan Study Abroad Program: Environment and the Society
at the Top of the World:
Professors Alok K. Bohara and Jennifer Thacher of Department of Economics co-directed a summer undergraduate study abroad program in Nepal, Kathmandu --
Himalayan Study Abroad Program. UNM students interacted with KU students and faculty, and engaged in a model village project --rain harvesting project for a school. For the study abroad short report and photos, click here:
Report,
Photos.
Workshop at KU by UNM Graduate Students:
Graduate student Hari Katuwal also conducted a workshop on research methodology for KUSOM students. Session I: Students' and Faculties' Research Commitment in Eastern and Western Universities. Session II: From Term Paper to Field Survey: Research Experience in Kathmandu (Summer 2009). For details, click
here
Visitors' Talk Program:
Former Finance Minister Dr. Ram S. Mahat and Planning Commission Vice Chairman
Dr. Shankar Sharma gave talk programs (2005 and 2006). For details, click
Here.
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNM
Graduate Resarch and Mentoring
Prakash Adhikari (recent graduate) worked as an RA at NSC to build databases. He also received much mentoring help from the NSC to devlop his dissertation research. He is Production Editor of NSC and it'e e-portal related activities.
Other Collaborative Interactions
Prakash has been in touch with KUSOM's Dean about developing some collaborative ideas. Professor Wendy Hansen, his adviser, also visited KU during Prakash's NSF funded survey collection for dissertaton research (Summer 2008).
Visitors' Talk Program
Dr. Devendra R. Pandey and Prem Khanal gave talk programs (2006, 209). For details, click
Here.
OTHER CAMPUSWIDE INTERACTIONS, UNM
Research Scientist II Dr. Doleswar Bhandiri of Bureau of Business and Economics Research (BBER - UNM) visited Kathmandu University and gave a talk program to their faculty and students. Session I: A Spatial Econometric Model of the Korean Economy.
Session II: Follow-up Roundtable Discussion: Understanding Economic Impact Analysis. For details, click
here
