Sarah Gregory

My name is Sarah Gregory and I have recently completed an internship with BNMT Nepal. I have had a life changing experience working alongside passionate, hard-working and ambitious people that give their lives to supporting the development of Nepal. This is my first time in the country and it definitely won’t be my last. I have been welcomed with open-arms, by not only everyone I work with, but also by the various communities I have had the pleasure of visiting.

I was stationed in Hetauda, a busy town in the district of Makwanpur, working with members of BNMT’s IMPACT TB project. As a BA Geography student, I have a particular interest in Nepal’s accessibility to health, how health fluctuates alongside Nepal’s various demographics and people’s attitude to health in rural and urban communities. I soon realised that my interest in mapping the physical accessibility of Nepal’s indigenous groups would be a challenge due to the lack of an established transport infrastructure.  The country’s topography holds breath-taking natural beauty, but accessibility can be challenging.

At the beginning of my placement, I developed an interest in the Chepang Community, one of the most marginalised groups in Nepal. I spoke to my colleagues about arranging a visit to the hills and next thing I know … off we go. After a 7-hour trek, we eventually made it to a small Chepang Community. The people live in houses made of clay, wood and stone and rely on small livestock as their greatest currency. Without the support from BNMT, I’m not sure I’d ever of had the privilege of seeing a lifestyle so far from my own. It had been inspiring watching my colleagues interact with a remote group like the Chepang’s. Throughout my placement BNMT staff spoke with great passionate amongst various communities whilst establishing active-case finding for TB. I will take a lot home from the professionalism, compassion and ambition of the BNMT staff.