SHARE AND CARE NEPAL
Ramesh Kumar Khadka, was born on April 25, 1970 at Dadathok of Mahalaxmi Municipality of Lalitpur district in Nepal. He started his career as a Dental Assistant in the Dental Department of Patan hospital in 1989. During the same time, Ramesh used to serve as the Youth Leader in Gyaneswor Church. He had the opportunity to initiate the youth ministry for the Church members but want to expand the ministry to the rural areas through action and not just words. The work experience at the Patan Hospital, as the Dental Assistant, and Youth Leader in Gyaneswor Church. As the Youth Leader, help to knit together to start a movement and sharing what you have and caring for the needy.
Ramesh in the early 1993, started carrying medicine and other equipment in a backpack, and went about visiting communities on foot to provide basic oral health care services. His experiences in interacting with dental patients from the rural areas instilled in him a burning desire to reach out and help rural communities where health care services were inaccessible. The passion to take the movement forward established Share and Care in 1993 with the commitment to reach out to the needy.
His experiences in interacting with dental patients from the rural areas, instilled in him a burning desire to reach out and help rural communities where health care services were inaccessible. The passion to take the movement forward Share and Care was established in 1993 with the commitment to reach out to all in need. Share and Care name was chosen with the understanding to share what we have and care how we can.
The “one-man’s backpack free mobile clinic” during those early ventures were focused on oral health care including dental treatment, extraction, tooth-brush instruction, and health education. People suffering from oral cancer, advanced dental abscesses and gum diseases were the main service seekers. Most of those cases could easily have been avoided by maintaining basic oral hygiene and preventive care. The experiences made a deep impression in the heart of Ramesh. The work began in a small way, visiting the villages, conducting dental camps, awareness programs and interacting with people.
These experiences gave impetus to the idea of forming an NGO that was to reach out to the remote areas to provide health care services. On 15th January 1994, an NGO was registered under the name Share and Care in Medico, Nepal (SCM/N) as the first faith-based Christian non-profit organization to respond to the health care needs of vulnerable people and communities in rural areas. In the same year, SCN took over the Pharping Clinic which was a UMN managed project and continued to provide the charity-based medical services to the surrounding poor communities.
In September 1994, Ramesh took the opportunity to participate in a one-year diploma course in Community Health and Development, which included four-month theory and 8-months practical at the Jamkhed Institute of Training and Research in Community Health and Population at CRHP-Jamkhed of India. The program changed brought a complete shift into the working approach i.e. from ‘charity and welfare’ to ‘community based development’. From then on, SCN has been involved in reaching out to the poor and vulnerable, empowering and transforming communities.
Over the past 30 years he has gained rich experience in managing projects, providing leadership, human resource development, networking with local, national and international organizations and mobilizing resources.
Apart from serving the communities in Nepal, he has contributed in the capacity strengthening programs as resource person for social and development workers, policy makers, local leaders and other community in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttranchal Pradesh and Uttrakhanda Pradesh in India and Afghanistan.
Ramesh has travelled widely to learn and share experiences with other international projects in Asia, America, and Europe countries including: India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Maurisus, Australia, New Zealand, England, Switzerland and USA.
With the rich experience and a large network Ramesh’s passion for reaching out to the needy communities has been even greater these days. He is always looking for ways and opportunities that would make a difference in the lives of the people whereby they are able to develop and transform in their lives.