Burn Violence Survivors-Nepal (BVS–Nepal)

Sobre nosotros

Burns Violence Survivors-Nepal (BVS–Nepal) is a not for profit non-governmental organisation established in 2008. We aim to support survivors of burns caused by accidents, violence such as attempted homicide attacks using kerosene or acid and attempted suicide (self-immolation) which often stems from domestic violence.

Our primary objectives are:
• To improve the delivery of burns care in Nepal by establishing a network of countrywide hospitals providing a collaborative approach to medical treatment, psychosocial care and nutrition.
• To rehabilitate and empower survivors by devising and implementing a holistic plan to assist in recovery.
• To raise awareness and educate the public with the aim of reducing the occurrence of burns violence and accidental burns.

Activities:
• Nutrition Pogramme: This nutritional support assists in maintaining body mass, fighting infections, preventing nutrient deficiency and improving wound healing.
• Counseling: BVS-Nepal aims to help survivors by assisting in the management of their immediate recovery. In the first instance BVS-Nepal provides a daily Counsellor to assist the patient and family in the Trauma Centre, Kathmandu. Counselling, therefore is a key element in the rehabilitation process. It can help patients resolve issues, manage their behaviour, develop self-awareness, and improve self-esteem.
• Physiotherapy: The physiotherapy program helps manage pain, control infection, prevent circulation limitations and contractures, prevent breathing complications and depending on the pathology, restore the patient’s mobility as soon as possible.
• Medical and Surgical support: BVS Nepal is providing financial support to patients from vulnerable backgrounds. Treatment includes an extensive and expensive array of medicines to reduce burn pain, manage wounds, control infection and may even lead to surgical intervention resulting in a 3 – 4 month stay in hospital. The two major types of surgical intervention are the skin graft and debridement which are necessary to replace lost tissue and improve scar appearance.
• Medical Equipment for Hospitals: BVS Nepal has provided equipment such as bedside monitors, specialist trolleys, patient racks, forceps, scissors, autoclave, gowns, and gloves.
• Recreational Programme: BVS- Nepal established a recreational room in the burn unit at Kanti Children Hospital to help reduce the trauma of hospitalisation.
• Prevention & Awareness Programme: BVS-Nepal is using Street Drama to reach its target audience. Educational material which also contains a basic first aid message is distributed. To extend the programme, BVS-Nepal is building up promising collaborations with local communities, schools, youth organisations, clubs, celebrities, artists and actors of Nepal.
• Advocacy & Research: BVS-Nepal has been collecting information from hospitals, newspapers and other stakeholders on ABV. BVS-Nepal is working collaboratively with Forum for Women Law and Development (FWLD) to advocate for changes in the law as it relates to burns violence. Our organisations are filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the Supreme Court.
• Rehabilitation Programme-Vocational trainings: Briquette & Solar Cooker Training; Sewing Training; Beauty Parlor and Nail Art Training; Computer Training; Candle Training
• Rehabilitation Programme-Self Entrepreneurship: Having successfully recovered from their injuries and upon completion of vocational training, BVS-Nepal is able to provide financial and business support for the survivor to establish a small business.
• UN-Women Project (Towards a Comprehensive strategy to end burn violence): ASTI has been awarded a 1,000 grant by the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women (UNIFEM) to carry out a large-scale research project into acid and burn violence in Cambodia, Nepal and Uganda

Laetitia Vanderstichelen is the Volunteer Executive Director of Burns Violence Survivors-Nepal (BVS Nepal).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.