The History of BNMT 1960s and 70s

Getting Started – 1960s

1966 – First approach made to the Government of Nepal, offering to supply a team of British doctors and nurses.

1967 - HRH Princep Shah becomes Royal Patron. BNMT officially registered as a British charity.

1968 – A team of eleven doctors, nurses and a mechanic arrives overland in Kathmandu. Work started in Biratnagar General Hospital with rooms re-equipped, pathology laboratory established, patient record system introduced, drugs and equipment donated. Improvements to operating theatre initiated. Building of nurses’ home and children’s ward begun. Similar works performed at Dharan Hospital. Mobile BCG team starts work in Morang district. Team members assist at mother and child health, family planning and ante-natal clinics in Biratnagar and Dharan and train Nepalese nurses.

1969 - BCG work started in Sunsari district. TB and BCG health education materials produced. Blood donor system established in Biratnagar. Dhankuta TB/leprosy clinic and pathology laboratory opened. Hill Drugs Scheme starts with four shops. Mother and child health, family planning and ante-natal clinics extended to Dhankuta. Surgeries held and preventative medicine lectures given in Dhankuta. BNMT provides a doctor for the construction workers on the British section of the East-West Highway.

A Million BCG Vaccinations – 1970s

1970 - BCG teams continue in lowland districts and start in Dhankuta. Six Hill Drugs Scheme shops running. Drugs supplied to some government hospitals and health posts in hill districts. Mother and child health, family planning and ante-natal health education materials produced. BNMT arranges for Dhankuta town water supply to be iodised.

1971- Biratnagar Hospital outpatients' department and pathology laboratory buildings completed. Eight Hill Drugs Scheme shops in operation.

1972 - BCG work started in Sankuwa Sabha district

1973 - Chainpur clinic opened in Sankuwasabha district. Dhankuta clinic X-ray equipment installed

1974 - Emergency treatment and vaccination programme against cholera epidemic in Saptari district.

1975 - Last recorded case of smallpox in Nepal. Major improvements to Biratnagar Hospital completed.

1976 - Millionth child receives BCG, in Dhankuta. BCG work started in Jhapa district. Thirty-one Hill Drugs Scheme shops operating.

1977 - Tehrathum and Bhojpur clinics opened. X-ray machine donated to Bhadrapur Hospital. BCG work started in Bhojpur and Panchthar districts. First Hill Drugs Scheme shopkeepers’ seminar held.

1978 - Khandbari clinic opened in Sankuwasabha district. BCG work started in Tehrathum and Khotang districts. BNMT starts training and supervision of village health works in Sankuwasabha district.

1979 - Phidim and Taplejung clinics opened. BCG work started in Okhaldunga district. Nutrition unit opened in Khandbari

BNMT in the 1980's and 90's
BNMT 2000 to present