Education, support crucial to assisting Nepali women

Several months ago I returned from another medical mission in Nepal. This was only weeks before a magnitude-7.8 earthquake that killed more than 8,000 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of buildings. The many frightful aftershocks caused even those whose homes remained intact to resort to sleeping in the rain. The disaster impaired the ability to plant crops, which will curtail the fall harvest and make food scarce this winter. In the meantime the monsoons are washing human waste into the water supply.

When a natural disaster hits a nation that is not only among the poorest on the planet, but also a fractured, failed state without a functional government, it is hell on earth. Hell, especially for the women of Nepal. No doubt, they suffer most.

Sadly, too often, when a natural disaster hits, for a news cycle or two, captivated viewers watch dramatic rescue efforts and a transient global outpouring of aid, only to move on to another story. Today the rehabilitation of Nepal is largely out of mind, as the European immigrant crisis and visits by Pope Francis and Chinese President Xi Jinping are at the fore. Out of the public eye, damage from Nepal’s earthquake is still unfolding.

Last week Manakai o Malama Integrative Healthcare Center screened “Within the Four Walls,” a documentary on teenage Nepali girls who are at risk of being sold into sex-trafficking networks and arranged marriage. Wolf Price, the cinematographer, spoke to the audience about his work and efforts to shelter these girls to ensure their education and find them jobs.

The panel discussion that followed included Jim Moriarty, former U.S. ambassador to Nepal; Jeanne Kapela, Miss Hawaii 2015; and Price. Kapela discussed her work to support vulnerable women in Hawaii called “Sex Trafficking: #ItEndsWithUs,” a campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking locally.

Lauren Moriarty, former U.S. ambassador to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, explained that from a cultural standpoint girls are an economic burden. They are viewed as a “cost center” and must be sent off with a dowry. Many of the poorest families sell their daughters for as little as $450, which is about the same price as an Asian buffalo. For this reason, Nepali women are vulnerable to many forms of abuse. They are not only victims of sex trafficking, but also of arduous physical work. Throughout the country they are seen routinely carrying exceptionally heavy loads. During my medical missions, frequently I have treated advanced osteoarthritis of the knees in females who are in their 20s, something typically not seen in the U.S. until people are in their 50s or older.

There are also legal barriers. The Nepalese constitution agreed upon earlier this month after 10 years of squabbling still precludes a female Nepalese citizen from passing on her citizenship to her child if her husband is a foreigner, unless he too becomes a Nepalese citizen.

The key is to first provide food and shelter and to help the girls understand that they are not alone. On that foundation, education is essential. In the absence of literacy, women always will be vulnerable. The ability to read and write in Nepali and English, combined with access to low-cost mobile phones and Internet connectivity, is incredibly empowering. I spoke with Kapela about an initiative that would couple Nepali girls and women with pen pals in Hawaii. She lit up at the idea.

Another qualitative shift occurs when these women are able to secure jobs. For their families, they transform from a cost center to a vital source of livelihood. When it happens the change is palpable. The sense of emancipation in their eyes and body language that comes from steady employment is readily appreciated.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, as well as presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, have signature platforms to help ensure that women around the world are safe and educated. More than once I have heard the president say when speaking abroad that it is difficult for an economy to do well when half of the people aren’t allowed to work or go to school. Recently, Michelle Obama launched the “Let Girls Learn” campaign with a vision that the Peace Corps would play a key role.

Clinton fired up her 2016 presidential campaign with an inspiring speech at the Women in the World summit in New York, telling the crowd at Lincoln Center, “There has never been a better time in history to be born female.”

Because Nepal is such a poor country, and the cost of living is so low, a little financial support goes a long way.

To donate: www.withinthefourwalls.com.

Ira Zunin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., is medical director of Manakai o Malama Integrated Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center and CEO of Global Advisory Services Inc. Submit your questions to info@manakaiomalama.com.