International Women's Day Observed in Kathmandu

Written by Nila Shrestha, Treasurer, Women's Federation for World Peace-Nepal

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Kathmandu, Nepal - On International Women's Day, March 8, 2014, the vice president of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP)-Nepal, Mrs. Hari Devi Shrestha; the treasurer, Mrs. Nila Shrestha; and one board member, Mrs. Rita Pant, went to feed residents in a nursing home in the Nishahaya Sewa Sadan in Shantinagar, Kathmandu. This nursing home had 45 residents: five men and the rest women. In this home all services are given free of charge, except for four rooms whose residents pay for their care.

This nursing home was established ten years ago and started out as a one-floor building. Now the main building has three stories, and there is another nice building that houses the kitchen and a conference hall. The second building was donated by the World Bank at a cost of US $5,460. The Nepali government contributes $2,000 each year to the nursing home.     

In Nepal, people like to do a good deed on their birthday, and many volunteers sign up to feed the elderly in this home. One man brings staples such as rice, salt and flour monthly to the home. Mrs. Sagun Shaha, the manager, said that there is a schedule of people and groups who will sponsor breakfast, lunch and dinner for the residents, and this is one of the reasons why the nursing home is thriving.

WFWP signed up to feed 45 residents a special Nepali meal that includes, rice, meat, curry, salad, a green leafy vegetable dish, pickled vegetables, fruits and milk. In the end only 43 residents were fed, because two had died the night before. Because of these deaths, the residents wanted only vegetable curry and no meat that day. WFWP-Nepal offered $70 to cover the cost of the food, but the manager took only $50 because they had extra fruit, so they did not need to buy it.

There is a small clinic on the premises as well. One nurse and 11 staff care for everyone; and a volunteer doctor comes once a week. All residents are registered with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City authorities.

It was a very rewarding experience to feed the grateful elderly people. WFWP is planning a similar project for next year.