Dear Dorothy Das Pariyar and dear Tham Bahadur Gurung, our sincere congratulations on receiving the Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine 2023. What does your typical workday look like as an occupational therapist as a patient advocate and lay pastor at the hospital?

Dorothy Das Pariyar:  

My work day starts with a brief meeting with my occupational therapy team. As an in-charge, I need to have an idea to plan and direct the team on what and how the day will be. Monday and Thursday is our medical and surgical round for leprosy patient. The rehabilitation team gathers to discuss the patient goal and needful services to be done by respective professionals. Likewise, we have a rehabilitation round for non-leprosy patients on Tuesday.
As an occupational therapist, I must do the initial assessment and set treatment planning for in and outpatients and discharge assessment, followed by a possible home program.
Educating caregivers is an integral part of our work as we have patients from different districts, and we are the only rehabilitation centre with OT in western Nepal. After discharge, caregivers are the ones to carry on with exercises at home. So we emphasise caregiver education, understanding the condition and having patience, supporting the patient, and not giving up hope to get better. The one crucial area in leprosy is splinting, and I sometimes have to be engaged in making splints as per the patient's need and talk about the importance of their use.

Tham Bahadur Gurung:

My typical workday starts bright and early at 7 a.m. The first thing I do is begin my day with prayer, seeking blessings for every patient, and I visit them in their respective wards to offer support and comfort. Afterward, I have a briefing session with my team members from the Social Services Department, where we share important information about the patient's conditions and needs for the day.
The remainder of my day is filled with meaningful interactions with patients. I spend a significant amount of time listening to their stories, offering counsel, and providing essential education on leprosy-related health matters. Sometimes, I also find myself running errands, such as shopping for urgent requirements for our admitted patients and assisting them in managing their finances, including supporting them in withdrawing money from the ATM.
As the day progresses, I focus on fostering a sense of community and support among the patients through patient fellowship activities. This part of my day is very rewarding, as it allows me to create an environment of renewed hope and healing. It's heartwarming to witness the positive impact these interactions can have on the well-being of the patients and their families.
 

What experiences were essential to you that brought you to work in the area focusing on people afflicted with leprosy?

Dorothy Das Pariyar:

I was connected with leprosy before my birth, as my grandparents were affected by leprosy during their young days. I grew up seeing how they lived with disability. My grandmother has a hand deformity, and I saw how different her hands were from mine. I was amazed by her way of doing her daily activities, especially preparing dishes for us during festivals. So from my childhood, I always wanted to help the sick and disabled.
Also, my exposure visit to Shining Hospital Surkhet INF during high school led me to decide to fully work for the disabled and choose my profession of Occupational therapy.
I am thrilled to bring some hope, smile and change in the lives of people and their families.
 

Tham Bahadur Gurung:

My journey towards working in the field of leprosy care was deeply influenced by my personal experience as a former leprosy patient who received treatment at Green Pastures Hospital. To me, this place is nothing short of a true blessing. It was here that I found not only medical care but also a sense of belonging and understanding. Seeing myself in every leprosy patient who walks through those doors, I felt a calling to give back and make a difference.
My own battle with leprosy allowed me to truly understand the struggles, fears, and challenges that each leprosy patient faces. I now counsel leprosy patients, I provide them with the wisdom and words of hope that I, myself, lacked during those challenging early days. I am eternally thankful to Green Pastures Hospital, which not only treated my disease but also enabled me to live my life with dignity. My goal is to create an environment where hope is renewed, and healing can flourish.

What are the plans for your future work?

Dorothy Das Pariyar:

Leprosy is one condition that leads to severe disability if not diagnosed or treated on time. I want to contribute to changing this scenario, that is, young people getting diagnosed early, helping them prevent deformity and thus lowering disability.
I would also like to do further studies in the area of rehabilitation. I dream of having an occupational therapy school in Nepal as we have to go abroad /to India for education.

Tham Bahadur Gurung:

I'm grateful to Green Pastures Hospital for granting people like me the opportunity to serve. Looking ahead, my plans for future work are centered on serving with joy, love, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and gentleness. My compassionate approach is rooted in my personal experiences and my understanding of the emotional and physical battles that patients confront daily.
In the coming days, I'm committed to sharing all the knowledge I've gained to help other patients affected by leprosy. It's my calling to contribute to their healing journey and make a positive impact on their lives.
 

Thank you very much for the interview!