During August and September 2024, our newest project member Eva held trainings on speech therapy of stroke patients in three of the hospitals affiliated with the Nepal Stroke Project: The B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, the provincial hospital in Surkhet and the Manipal Teaching Hospital in Pokhara. The focus was on dysphagia (neurogenic swallowing disorder) with an additional overview of aphasia (neurogenic speech disorder). The training courses consisted of lectures and practical training sessions in which especially nursing staff learnt the basics of clinical diagnostics and were able to apply these directly to patients.
A central component of the training was the introduction of diagnostic tools for clinically assessing swallowing disorders. The participants carried out practical exercises in small groups and conducted screenings as well as tests of oral sensory and motor skills with each other. The self-experience was useful to gain a deeper understanding of the difficulties of dysphagia patients and build empathy with their experience.
The training sessions also introduced the idea of ‘Focal Nurses Dysphagia’ in all three clinics. These nurses are to act as central points of contact for the topic of dysphagia. The first nurses to take on this role in the future have been identified in each clinic. Although the initiative is still in its early stages, this is an important step towards ensuring better care for stroke patients in the long term and further embedding the topic of dysphagia in clinical practice.
As a big fan and third time visitor of Nepal, it was a great pleasure for Eva to get to know the country from a different perspective – not just as a tourist, but as part of this important medical endeavour. She was particularly impressed by the dedication of the Nepalese healthcare staff, the progress already made in stroke care and the participants’ great thirst for knowledge. At the same time, she was deeply moved by the welcoming hospitality and the splendour of Nepalese culture that she once again encountered on this trip to the beautiful South Asian country.
So many people where a great help and company during her stay. But a special, warm thanks goes out to the dedicated and hard working Dres. Bhupendra Shah, Khechar Paudel, Balgopal Karmacharya & Ashim Subedi, who supported this endeavour as the affiliated Doctors of the visited hospitals. Further gratitude to the nurses Mrs. Ramala Guragain (Stroke Nurse BPK) & Ms. Tak Maya (Nurse Training Co-Ordinator Manipal) for their kindness and support at any time.
