Here's what we have been up to in November!

NEWSLETTER

November 2017

THANK YOUR FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR #GIVINGTUESDAY CAMPAIGN! WE HAVE REACHED OUR GOAL!

Compassion comes naturally for a nun. (Photo courtesy: Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy)

The Bhutan Foundation, the Bhutan Cancer Society, and over 600 nuns in six districts in Bhutan would like to thank all the supporters of our campaign. We have reached our goal and were able to raise $10,000 to provide cancer control services in prevention, treatment, palliative, and supportive care to 10 nunneries in Bhutan. If you didn't get a chance to donate during the campaign, it's still not too late to support this important initiative. You can click here to donate now.

We are excited to share updates from our projects. Here's what we have been doing!

Fifth Bhutan Health Journal (BHJ) launched

Hon. Minister of Economic Affairs Lyonpo Lekey Dorji launching the fifth edition of the Bhutan Health Journal.

At the 2017 International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences in Thimphu, the Minister of Economic Affairs launched the fifth e dition of the Bhutan Health Journal. In keeping with this year's theme--Lifestyle-related Diseases: Challenges and Opportunities--the journal highlighted research on gestational diabetes mellitus and its association with pregnancy outcomes, and non-communicable diseases. It also included research on anemia and risk factors among children, a report on maternal hypovitaminosis D as a cause of neonatal seizure, and an article on children's environmental health in South Asia.

The BEAR Team receives crucial medical equipment

Four members of the BEAR Team with their new equipment.

Following our online campaign in July to raise funds for the Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval (BEAR) Team, in partnership with the Health Ministry and the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), we were able to support the BEAR team with crucial medical equipment for the helicopter. The equipment consists of handheld, portable devices that enable early intervention and care for patients during helicopter transport.

The BEAR Team includes national and international resuscitation doctors and nurses ready to provide emergency care to any patient at the site of evacuation before ensuring the patient's safe transport to a referral hospital. The team is able to deliver ICU-level emergency care anywhere in the country within an hour.

Read an article by Bhutan's national television, Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)

here.

Bhutan Foundation supports Bhutan For Life

Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen graced the launching of Bhutan for Life. (Photo courtesy: Her Majesty's Official Facebook page)

Coinciding with the birthday anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck on November 11, 2017, the World Wildlife Fund and the Royal Government of Bhutan launched the Bhutan For Life initiative to protect Bhutan's network of protected areas.

Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck launched the initiative, and the Bhutan Foundation is excited to support it. Bhutan For Life is a strategic and long-term solution to ensure that Bhutan remains economically and environmentally sustainable. The Bhutan For Life initiative draws on the success story of Bhutan's conservation efforts. We congratulate all stakeholders and partners on successfully launching this initiative worth $43.1 million to protect Bhutan's environment forever. Click here for Her Majesty's key note address at the launch.

UWICER re-vitalizes a Nature Study Sub-Center in Kheybeythang to monitor temperate altitude flora and fauna


	The Kheybeythang Nature Sub-Center at Phobjikha.

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research (UWICER) is a government research and training institute. Its focus is defined by needs and challenges within and outside of Bhutan. In addition to conducting research, the institute offers a two-year National Certificate II and III course in Forestry and Conservation and tailor-made courses in conservation biology, sustainable forestry, and water resources for professionals working in these fields.

UWICER has six sub-centers spread across the country, one of which is the Nature Study Sub-Center located at Kheybeythang in Phobjikha. UWICER recently took over the infrastructure at Kheybeythang from Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and plans to use it to conduct long-term monitoring of important temperate flora and fauna in addition to using the facilities for conducting forest and wildlife management courses for National Certificate II and III students of the institute. The facilities will also allow the Royal University of Bhutan to bring their students to pursue nature study and to provide hands-on classes in aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity monitoring. The Sub-Center will also house high-school students during their vacations for various environmental programs.

First research study on maternal oral health in Bhutan

Dr. Mary Alice Lee, Yale School of Public Health, with representatives from KGUMSB and JDWNRH.

Little is known about women's oral health in Bhutan, especially during pregnancy and the childbearing years. Maternal oral health is an important public health issue, as dental caries are an infectious and communicable disease that can be transmitted from mothers to infants. This year, a team of Bhutanese researchers from the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) and Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) and the Yale School of Public Health faculty conducted Bhutan's first-ever study on maternal oral health in the country's three regional hospitals. The study sought to understand the prevalence of oral disease and modifiable risk factors among pregnant women in Bhutan. The information gathered will be used to enhance Bhutan's efforts to improve maternal and child health.