Our Partners

Many Hands Help Us Realize Our Vision

VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY CARE CLINICS IN NEPAL

Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world and has been plagued with political unrest and military conflict for the past decade. In 2015, a pair of major earthquakes devastated this small and fragile country. 

Since 2008, the Acupuncture Relief Project has provided over 300,000 treatments to patients living in rural villages outside of Kathmandu Nepal. Our efforts include the treatment of patients living without access to modern medical care as well as people suffering from extreme poverty, substance abuse and social disfranchisement.

Common conditions include musculoskeletal pain, digestive pain, hypertension, diabetes, stroke rehabilitation, uterine prolapse, asthma, and recovery from tuberculosis treatment, typhoid fever, and surgery.

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COMPASSION CONNECT : DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Episode 1
Rural Primary Care

In the aftermath of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, this episode explores the challenges of providing basic medical access for people living in rural areas.

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Episode 2
Integrated Medicine

Acupuncture Relief Project tackles complicated medical cases through accurate assessment and the cooperation of both governmental and non-governmental agencies.

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Episode 3
Working With The Government

Cooperation with the local government yields a unique opportunities to establish a new integrated medicine outpost in Bajra Barahi, Makawanpur, Nepal.

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Episode 4
Case Management

Complicated medical cases require extraordinary effort. This episode follows 4-year-old Sushmita in her battle with tuberculosis.

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Episode 5
Sober Recovery

Drug and alcohol abuse is a constant issue in both rural and urban areas of Nepal. Local customs and few treatment facilities prove difficult obstacles.

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Episode 6
The Interpreters

Interpreters help make a critical connection between patients and practitioners. This episode explores the people that make our medicine possible and what it takes to do the job.

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Episode 7
Future Doctors of Nepal

This episode looks at the people and the process of creating a new generation of Nepali rural health providers.

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Compassion Connects
2012 Pilot Episode

In this 2011, documentary, Film-maker Tristan Stoch successfully illustrates many of the complexities of providing primary medical care in a third world environment.

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From Our Blog

Rural Health Education and Service Center (RHESC) | Good Health Nepal

In 2013, Acupuncture Relief Project established a partnership with the Rural Health and Education Service Center (RHESC). This mutually beneficial partnership is providing the school with experienced guidance. ARP’s director, Andrew Schlabach, serves on the board of directors for RHESC. He is working to strengthen the curriculum with the hope of eventually creating a fully accredited Bachelor’s degree program. This partnership will provide ARP with the Nepali-educated workforce to staff the integrative health clinics on a year-round basis.  

There are three pillars that are critical to the establishment of a health profession in Nepal: cooperation from the Health Professionals Council, a school to offer adequate training and a Bachelor’s program to offer the corresponding degree. ARP successfully petitioned the Health Professionals Council in an initial attempt to pave the way to professional licensure for acupuncture in Nepal. In 2013, RHESC, located in Kathmandu, became Nepal’s first acupuncture university. The current program offered is at a certificate-level and is accredited by the Vocational Education Department.

Rural Health Education and Service Center (RHESC) | Good Health Nepal

The clinics in Bhimphedi and Bajra Barahi host student interns from RHESC who are in their final year of school. During the upcoming year, ARP plans to host four graduates who will begin their three-year residency, the completion of which will qualify them to work at one of ARP’s clinics.

It is our hope that RHESC graduates will choose to work in ARP’s clinics year-round, as well as in other remote villages in need of properly trained, integrative healthcare practitioners. 

Rural Health Education and Service Center (RHESC) | Good Health Nepal

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Our Mission

Acupuncture Relief Project, Inc. is a volunteer-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization (Tax ID: 26-3335265). Our mission is to provide free medical support to those affected by poverty, conflict or disaster while offering an educationally meaningful experience to influence the professional development and personal growth of compassionate medical practitioners.


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