Community Health & Wellness Center

Bringing Healthcare Closer to Mountain Communities

Phillim, Chumnubri Rural Municipality, Gorkha

Chumnubri Rural Municipality is one of the most remote areas of northern Gorkha. Difficult geography, long distances, limited transport and limited healthcare resources mean that many people still struggle to get timely medical care.

Kyimolung Foundation plans to build a Community Health & Wellness Center in Phillim to bring accessible, affordable and reliable healthcare to the people of Tsum, Nubri, Sirdibas and the surrounding communities.

Why Phillim?

Phillim sits at the heart of Chumnubri, where the paths from Tsum, Nubri, Sirdibas and the surrounding villages meet. For many people in these remote communities, it is the natural place to reach essential services. The foundation already owns land in Phillim for the centre, and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and a preliminary construction budget have been prepared. The groundbreaking ceremony, with blessings for the land and the laying of the foundation stone, was held at the site in Sirdibas on 17 January 2023.

The centre is meant to complement, not replace, government health services. Government health posts remain essential; the centre will offer selected services through a systematic, patient-friendly and accessible model, adding diagnostic, complementary, preventive and specialist services where possible. To stay sustainable it will charge small, affordable fees, while continuing to offer free or subsidised care to people who cannot afford it.

Proposed Services

The centre will grow according to the community’s needs, in coordination with the relevant Government of Nepal authorities and applicable health standards. Proposed services include:

• General medical consultation
• Acupuncture
• Sowa Rigpa (traditional Tibetan medicine)
• Dental services
• Basic emergency and first-aid care
• Essential medicines
• Basic health screening and early diagnosis
• Referral and emergency coordination
• Free medical camps
• Vaccination and community health programmes
• Maternal and child health support
• Health education and disease prevention
• Telemedicine and remote specialist consultation, where feasible

The centre will also give visiting doctors, nurses, specialists, health professionals and volunteers a base from which to offer additional services to remote communities.

A Community-Based Approach

This will be more than a building: it will be a community health initiative for the people of Chumnubri. We will seek to work with:

• Chumnubri Rural Municipality
• Government health authorities
• Local health institutions and health workers
• Medical professionals and specialists
• Nepali and international healthcare organisations
• Humanitarian and development partners
• Local community members
• Individual donors and philanthropic organisations

Local health workers will be at the centre of the work, while visiting professionals and volunteers strengthen it through specialist clinics, training, medical camps and outreach.

Why This Center Matters

In a remote mountain community, a health problem can become life-threatening simply because diagnosis and treatment are too far away. Early diagnosis saves lives: someone who gets timely screening, advice, basic treatment or referral may avoid a serious crisis. A mother with a pregnancy complication, an elderly person with a chronic illness or a child who needs prompt attention should not face needless delays because of geography.

Long-Term Goals

• Bring healthcare closer. Reduce the need to travel long distances for basic care and consultation.
• Promote early diagnosis. Strengthen basic screening and diagnostics so conditions are found and managed earlier.
• Support mothers and children. Strengthen maternal, newborn and child health through services, education, referral and outreach.
• Strengthen local healthcare. Support local health workers with training, equipment, collaboration and professional development.
• Strengthen referral. Build a reliable way to connect patients who need advanced treatment with the right hospitals and specialists.
• Build sustainable healthcare. Move beyond occasional medical camps to continuous, locally available care.
• Serve for the long term. Build a centre that can serve future generations of Chumnubri.

Project Status

The land, plans and approvals are in place; construction now needs funding. Follow every step so far, with photos, in the project journey below.

Help Us Build a Healthcare Center That Can Save Lives

The vision is ready. The land is secured. The DPR has been prepared, and the construction budget has been worked out. Now we need the support of people who believe that everyone deserves basic healthcare, wherever they live. We are seeking donations and funding partners to complete the construction, equip the centre and start providing care. Your support can help fund:

• Construction and completion of the centre
• Medical equipment and essential supplies
• Basic diagnostic and screening equipment
• Essential medicines
• Dental and other service equipment
• Healthcare professionals and support staff
• Telemedicine and specialist consultation
• Emergency and referral support
• Free medical camps, vaccination and outreach
• Health education and preventive care

We know one centre cannot solve every healthcare challenge in Chumnubri. But together we can make sure fewer people suffer simply because healthcare is too far away.

Diagnose early. Treat on time. Refer when necessary. Save lives.

The idea grew out of our experience rebuilding Chhekampar Health Post after the 2015 earthquake.