International Disability Awareness Day 2024
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is celebrated every year on 3 December. The day is about raising awareness and promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development.
Life in Nepal can be incredibly challenging, especially for those living with disabilities. There are many ways we help disabled veterans and their dependents to access the financial aid and medical care they need to lead fulfilling lives.
Safe and Accessible Homes
Bhim Bahadur Thapa served for seven years in the 6th Gurkha Rifles, spending time in combat during the Borneo confrontation. He was made redundant in 1959 and returned to Nepal where he relied on subsistence farming to make a living.
Bhim lives with his wife in Ratu, one of the poorest and most remote areas of the Surkhet district in the midwest of Nepal. He lost his sight around 35 years ago and now needs help to get around.
This year we built Bhim and his wife a new Earthquake-Resilient home which they moved into in April. The home has been fitted with handrails and ramps for safety and ease of access, to enable the couple to live comfortably as they age.
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
Our mobile medical teams carry out regular visits to veterans and widows in their homes to check on their health. They provide advice on exercises and physiotherapy to enable them to stay mobile for as long as possible.
Our two Residential Homes also have rehabilitation facilities with dedicated bed spaces for those who are recovering from a stroke, fracture or illness such as COPD or pneumonia. Our specialist Rehab Therapists support their recovery including proper nutrition and improving mobility.
Disability Support Grant
We provide a Disability Support Grant (DSG) to disabled dependents of Gurkha veterans because we understand that without medical and financial support, the challenges brought on by a disability could become insurmountable.
One of our DSG recipients had been living in an old house that was crumbling and dangerous with no proper sanitation. We constructed a new earthquake-resilient home to enable him to live a safer, more comfortable life.
“The house I have been waiting for years. Today is the happiest day of my life. From now on, my whole life will be spent in this house. From now on I will be able to welcome my family and my children to this house.
“We will never forget the gift given to us by GWT in response to the sacrifice that our forefathers done. This gift will be the most valuable to us and on behalf of my family I would like to thank you for the support given to us.”
Prosthetics Fitting
Sadly there are many people in Nepal who have lost a limb due to accident or illness or because they simply couldn’t afford medical treatment. At our free Medical Camps in remote areas of Nepal we measure and fit prosthetic limbs, transforming their lives.
31-year old Bishne Thagunna left his home eight years ago to seek employment in India. With limited education and the need to support his family, he took on the physically demanding job of shepherding. However, his life took a devastating turn when a dispute with his employer ended in violence and Bishne was shot in the leg.
Bishne was forced to return to Nepal, unable to work and struggling to earn a living. He also suffered emotional trauma and is unable to speak properly. Accompanied by his brother, Bishne travelled for four hours by bus to reach the medical camp where he was fitted with a new prosthetic leg.
Through these initiatives, the Gurkha Welfare Trust helps improve the quality of life for Gurkha veterans, their families and communities, ensuring that those with disabilities receive the care, support, and resources they need.