Medical Support to Bimala Devkota

Last September 2014, concerns about a middle aged housewife and mother Bimala Devkota in the village of Dadagaun were brought to VIN’s attention. Just over two years ago, Bimala lost her son to suicide, and became very depressed.

Bimala was unable to eat or even get out of bed, and when her symptoms worsened instead of subsided Bimala’s family and friends began to believe that what she was experiencing was beyond typical grief. After a series of unsuccessful medical appointments and even a hospitalization, Bimala and her family and friends were beginning to lose hope as her mental health deteriorated. To make matters worse, Bimala suffers from cataracts in both eyes.

After hearing about Bimala’s great difficulties, VIN staff and an international volunteer Amelia who is trained as a Clinical Social Worker met with Bimala. Although she appeared frail, listless, and was initially unresponsive, the meeting ended with a glimmer of hope when she asked for help.

With help from the international volunteer and VIN staff, Bimala was prescribed medication for depression. Despite an initial reluctance to take her medication for fear that being happy meant she was forgetting her son, Bimala is now committed to taking her medication. Bimala has now been taking her medication for fifth months, and her family and friends have said that they’ve noticed definite improvements.

Despite her improvements of mood, Bimala still suffered from cataracts in both eyes. Bimala’s doctor told VIN that he recommended surgery to fix both of her eyes. In January 2015, an international volunteer named Jen from Hong Kong worked with VIN and motivated and funded Bimala’s surgery. Jen went with Bimala for eye check-ups and her doctor approved the surgery for both of her eyes for her cataracts. VIN and Jen attended three follow up visits with Bimala’s doctor and provided support and transportation. On January 27, Bimala received a successful surgery in her left eye.