Community Burn Prevention in Nepal
Research by the Centre for Global Burn Injury Policy and Research (CGBIPR) and Interburns in 2019 found that burn injuries disproportionately affect poor families in Nepal, with women and children most at risk of scald and flame burns due to cooking and serving food. Very limited awareness of burn prevention and appropriate first aid for burns gave rise to training in Basic Burn Care (BBC) and Community Burn Prevention (CBP) and a Practical Handbook for First Aid for Burns. Also available in 10 languages through https://learn.interburns.org/lms/
Training in 3 districts resulted in greater awareness, partnerships between rural areas and national level hospitals, and budgetary allocation for prevention work. In 2019, no burns were recorded in all three project areas. This was the start of a ‘Burn Free Village Movement’ in Nepal.
In 2021, Interplast (Australia and New Zealand) collaborated with Interburns to extend Basic Burn Care (BBC) and Community Burn Prevention (CBP) to 4 further Rural Municipalities (RMs). In spite of delays due to COVID 19, training was delivered in September and October 2021 by the very experienced Interburns/SAGUN team: Kamal Phuyal, Anil Dhital, Rojina Shilpakar, Punya Suwal, and Mahanta Babu Maharjan.
125 healthcare workers and 133 female community health volunteers were trained in their local districts. For the majority this was the first time they had received any training in burn first aid and prevention.
‘We have been in health service for over 10 years but never learnt about burns’.
‘Policy makers do not realise how hard burns are’.
‘We now know where to refer severe burn cases’.
The potential for sustained impact is high through the involvement of the Rural Municipality office and Health Coordinators. Handbooks and IEC materials (posters, flyers, etc.) were also distributed and are essential tools.
Recommendations include follow-up training after 6 months, and that training is disseminated in other districts.
Participants and organisers expressed sincere gratitude to Interburns, SAGUN, Interplast and AusAid for this training program.