According to a survey conducted by the Dratshang Lhentshog in 2019, only 20 % of monks, nuns, and lams of the monastic institutions in the country were trained on health hygiene. However, this is expected to improve as the Dratshang Lhentshog now plans to train all its members on health hygiene by the end of 2023.
To do that, the Central Monastic Body in collaboration with the health ministry recently conducted a 5-day long programme on basic health hygiene and first aid training.
Around 40 representatives including nuns from various religious bodies were trained on preventive measures of various diseases, understanding the importance of health hygiene, balancing food nutrition, and best practices of water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Through this program, the central monastic body now plans to appoint health coordinators for various religious institutions in the country.
“I have learned some basic skills on how to save people’s life during emergencies. Moreover, we will also be able to maintain good sanitation. We will also be able to handle minor problems like headaches and small cuts using knowledge through this training,” said Sangay Thinley, one of the participants.
“In my school, we have teacher, Khenpo, and even lama, so after this training, I will advocate for them and will let them propagate to the nearby village community, while I will also share skills with my friends and village people while I go for religious purpose and even during leisure time,” said Tenzin Phuntsho, another participant.
So far, the program was successfully conducted in six districts. Likewise, Dratshang Lhentshog expects to train all monks, nuns, and lams on the matter by the end of 2023.
“The 2019 survey report revealed that not many monastic schools were trained on health-related issues. Only 20% of them were trained. So, we thought that our monastic schools now need health coordinators. As such, we have started to train them,” said Kinley Penjor, Assistant Program Officer of the Dratshang Lhentshog.
For now, Bhutan has around 250 various monastery schools and institutes. United Nation International Child Education fund funded the training program.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
