Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel is a farmer from Gorkha, the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake that struck Nepal with devastating consequences. His family lost their home in the natural disaster and he has since had serious health issues. INF’s GRACE project has helped Bishnu rebuild his life and provide hope for the future.
Sixty-six-year-old Bishnu spent every day in the field working hard to feed his family in the village of Chhoprak, Gorkha. After a long day’s work he woke one night unable to move the right side of his body.
He was taken to the local medical centre but they were unable to help him. Desperate to walk again Bishnu travelled four hours by bus to Chitwan to the Bharatpur Hospital. There he was eventually diagnosed and told the right side of his body had become paralysed from high blood pressure.
Bishnu was devastated as he returned to his temporary house, having lost his family home in the 2015 earthquake. He lay in his bed each day unable to complete simple tasks. His wife did everything for him.
INF began working in the Gorkha area after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck. After assessing the needs of locals they began the GRACE Project and Bishnu began seeing INF staff. He was given physiotherapy exercises to follow, limb positioning and a nutrition plan as well as regular checkups. After a month he was already able to stand by himself again.
Today, Bishnu is once again able to walk, work in the field and help his family.
“I thought I would never be able to do anything again in my life but now I am able to,” says Bishnu. He is thankful to INF for rebuilding his life and hope for the future.