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The Rights Based Approach and the Story of Dhirendra Kumar B
The Britain-Nepal Medical Trust adopted the Rights Based Approach (RBA) for effective
implementation of its Health Improvement Programme (HIP) from late 1990s.
The RBA advocates for the health rights of each and every citizen, especially those who are deprived and marginalised. The approach seeks to empower people to gain access to improved health and services and trains and plans with health service providers to ensure
non-discrimination for the highest standards of care.
“The workshop has changed my life completely; I have become more aware about my rights. I am now more actively involved in social works for the betterment of my community. I owe this to the
Britain Nepal Medical Trust’s ‘Right Based Approach (RBA) to Health Improvement Programme’ that made me believe in myself”
Dhirendra Kumar B. Ka, 18 years Sidhara VDC, Morang
Dhirendra Kumar B. Ka belongs to a dalit community living in a small village called Sidhara in Morang District of Eastern Nepal. Dhirendra lost his sight
when he was seven years old. Ever since then life had been very difficult for him. That is until he had the opportunity to participate in a workshop run under
the Britain Nepal Medical Trust’s RBA programme. This workshop, for disadvantaged youths’ peer support, helped him to come out from his small hut
to claim for his rights and contribute to society in a meaningful way.
He now chairs a local youth group called the ‘Dalit Janasyasthya Yuwa Club’ which meets on a monthly basis to design awareness programs on health issues
such as stigma and discrimination towards people with HIV infections. He even writes scripts for street dramas and motivates his fellow youths to act and
perform in the plays. The club promotes personal hygiene and cleanliness in the community. As more people start to keep their home and surrounding area cleaner,
the frequency of infectious disease in the community may be expected to decrease.
Today, Dhirendra is less worried about his blindness; he is concerned rather about his community and people’s rights. He has become a change
agent and he is proud that he has found a meaningful place in society.
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