Basic Health Clinic in Melamchi is supported by the Japanese Red Cross. Japanese health delegates work together with the local staff.
"This baby being born healthy is a sign of hope and second life for our whole family", says Dolma Tamang, 28.
She was buried under the rubble when their house collapsed in the April 25th earthquake, but was able to dig herself out.
"I was so worried about the baby, that I did not care about my own health, even though I had wounds everywhere and had trouble breathing", Dolma says.
As their local health post was totally damaged, she did not know where to get help.
Two weeks later luck was on Dolma's side, because when she was about to go into labour, there happened to be a Japanese mobile clinic team in her village and they took her to a health clinic in Melamchi supported by the Japanese Red Cross.
"The ride was just an hour long by car, but by foot it is three hours, and I was not able to walk", Dolma says.
Despite the struggles the baby boy arrived to the world healthy. "Even though we lost almost all of our belongings and live in a temporary shelter, I could not be happier and more thankful for this little miracle."
SOUNDBITES
Mr. Naoki Kokawa (Senior Deputy Director General, International Department, Japan)
"The first I came here was the third day after the disaster and nobody was here. No other external support was there. And 250-300 people, it was really crowded. The local doctors and nurses they just could not cope with that situation."
"The role of Japanese Red Cross since day one is to support the clinic here. We are completely integrated and embedded in this clinic and covering the region of 20 000. They have also several health posts around this area so our mission is to support the health systems in this Melamchi Region."
"I think quite dramatic change has been the last few days when the trauma patients has been decreasing and the focus has been shifting towards more to the remote area where we have found the health posts totally destroyed and health services has been almost totally stopped there."
Dr. Kshitiz Sapkota (Medical Officer, Nepal) //audio only on right channel///
"The best part in working with the Japanese team is that they are really nice people, they are cooperative and they support us in our work and they don't take over our work. We are working in a team. It doesn't seem like we are working separately and they are working separately, so it is a team."
Ms. Dolma Tamang (mother of a newborn baby in Melamchi Basic Health Clinic)
"When the earthquake hit we were at home and people started to shout that there is an earthquake. We stayed under the door when suddenly our house collapsed. We were buried under the rubble but luckily near the door so we could get out."
"I felt that the baby was on it's way. I knew I should go to the health post but it was destroyed. I was to there to talk to the sisters and luckily there was a health team that had travelled all the way from Melamchi for the primary assessment for the Japanese Red Cross, and luckily the sisters advised me to travel with the team to Melamchi because they did not have the instruments to deliver the baby."