Pokhara heart screening: 1,197 students from 12 schools

From Thursday, 29 October to Saturday, 31 October 2026, a heart screening camp for school children was held in Pokhara, under the END RHD Campaign, Nepal.

On Friday, 30 October (13 Kartik 2083), at Majhthum, Pokhara-23 (Pame), Kaski, 1,197 students from 12 schools were screened for heart disease, including rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and congenital heart disease (CHD).

A doctor listens to a student’s heart with a stethoscope during screening at Majhthum, Pokhara — Stethoscope screening comes first; children with suspected abnormalities receive echocardiography.

What the screening found on 30 October

1,197 students screened from 12 schools
120 echocardiography tests performed
20 new cases of heart disease detected (RHD and CHD)
3 children referred for surgery

The Rotary Club of Patan worked with Nepal Heart Foundation, KIOCH and a visiting team from the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation on the camp. Rtn. Prakash R. Regmi, Rtn. Khadak S. Bisht and Rtn. Ganga R. Gautam took part for the club.

Members also reported a new milestone: the provincial government has budgeted NPR 71 lakh for RHD and heart screening.

Students wait in line as screening takes place beneath the camp banner at Majhthum, Pokhara — Students wait their turn at Majhthum, Pokhara-23, 30 October 2026.

Taking screening beyond the Kathmandu Valley

The Pokhara camp followed the screening of 850 students in Bajrabarahi, Chapagaun, on 28 October. Finding heart disease early lets children receive treatment before lasting damage to the heart.