In collaboration with our Nepalese colleagues at the Peace Garden School and the Noble School we establish what is essentially a triage service, during our annual visit.  The students from Birkdale School, many of which are aspiring medical students, bring out their classes and systematically work through basic health checks, measuring; height and weight to plot a growth chart position; vision using a Snellen test chart; teeth, a general overview for decay and general health concerns such as hearing.  

The data is then compiled during our evenings at the International Club, a curious but wonderful accommodation set up and children identified with needs are saved a place on a school bus.  Organised by Arjan Maharajan, the Headmaster of the Peace Garden School, the school bus then takes the children off to professionals in Kathmandu, who administer in depth health examinations and organise the provision of treatment or assistance, for example reading glasses from an optician.

These health checks are in direct collaboration with RNV Nepal, who then fund the costs of accessing medical care for the children identified.  It is the first steps of health service, this experience has led to the making of many a medic, some of the past Birkdale students from this trip are now doctors and one in particular is a trustee for RNV Nepal, coming full circle to continue to work alongside the people of Nepal.

In the early 2000's Birkdale teams began to draw in the support of parents, many of whom were doctors working within the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust and during these visits observations were made about easy to identify health indicators.  Future trips gained momentum and a series of basic health checks were established.  Functioning much like a triage system the checks identify children with potential health deficiencies and these children are then forwarded on to professional services in Kathmandu.

The Birkdale teams work closely with our Nepalese counterparts who not only organise the school population that are identified as needing further care but also mobilise the community to attend the health checks.  To date in the Kohkana district of Kathmandu it is still very difficult to access regular health care and checks and the routine of annual health checks at schools like the Peace Garden School, for some has become the most regular check point for their children's health.

Once the health checks are completed and data compiled the children that need professional attention are identified and given a place on a bus, organised by the Headteacher of the Peace Garden School, Arjun Maharajan.  These children are taken in to Kathmandu to see professionals and if further attention is required this is organised and then the bill is paid by RNV Nepal.

A clear example is that each year children with eyesight problems will be identified and then fitted with appropriate glasses by an optician.  As teachers will know around the world, if a child has access to reading the course books, then their potential for a better education is vastly increased.