Sabina Parajuli successfully completes her ophthalmology studies

It was her childhood dream to become a doctor, says Sabina Parachuli from Sangachok today. She certainly did not know what demands would be placed on her when she sat in the two-room school building in her home village in Sindhupalchok District in 1996. In any case, she has fulfilled her childhood dream. On 18.10.2021, she received the confirmation of successful completion of her studies to become an ophthalmologist.

Nepalhilfe Beilngries has made a significant contribution to her career. It actually began with the "Jana Jagriti Higher Secondary School" built by our aid organisation in Sangachok in 2005, where her parents were employed as teachers and where she successfully completed her twelve-year school education. For the ambitious student, it was then off to Kathmandu, 80 km away, where the selection process for medical studies was pending. As one of 5000 applicants, she qualified for one of the 100 study places.  She also received a government scholarship. This support was on the condition that she would have to work in the medically underserved regions of the country after successfully completing her studies. In addition, there was the fortunate circumstance that Manfred Lindner, from the Nepalhilfe, met the 18-year-old and her parents during a visit. Their request to support her financially during her studies was granted, which was an additional motivation for the young woman. As chance would have it, Dr. Christoph Pajatsch, head physician of cardiology at the hospital in Wörth/Donau and an enthusiastic Nepal lover, met the young student in Kathmandu. Since Parajuli intended to study this subject, Dr Pajatsch organised a three-month stay in Bavaria in 2016 with the support of Nepalhilfe. 

With excitement and anticipation, the then 25-year-old embarked on her first trip abroad. In addition experiencing the daily routine at the clinic and daily life in this country, there was also a leisure programme for her with tours to Lake Constance, South Tyrol or the Bavarian region, including a meeting with the "King of Bavaria", as Sabina described the meeting with Bavaria's then Prime Minister Horst Seehofer. 

A key experience, as Parajuli describes it, was when, in the spring of 2019, she became aware of a blind woman being hit and injured by a motorcyclist in the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu traffic. That is when she decided to study ophthalmology, knowing that she would disappoint her "head doctor", as she confidently called Dr. Pajatsch. Once again, she had to find one of the few places among 1000 applicants. She managed that too and has now successfully completed her studies.

With her husband, who is also a doctor, she will move to Birendranagar in Surkhet District. For an initial two years, she will help the people there with her acquired expertise. Her husband has family connections in this region 600 km away from Kathmandu, which favoured the decision. Sabina Parajuli repeatedly expressed her gratitude for the long-term financial support from Beilngries. It was justified, as it turns out. The people of her country will benefit from it. 

We wish good luck Sabina on your future life and career!