New Director for Green Pastures Hospital — Dr Arun Budha
Dr Arun Budha is the new Hospital Director at Green Pastures Hospital [GPH]. With his wife, Smriti, their two daughters and infant son, Arun has moved to Pokhara to take up the role. He shared with us some of his story and his hopes for the role. I was born into a leprosy affected family. My parents found healing and hope at TEAM Hospital in Dadeldhura and both ended up working at the mission hospital. My father was also the pastor of the local church.
I completed training in China, and also began working at TEAM Hospital Dadeldhura as a Medical Doctor and later as Medical Director. While there, I really understood the huge need for quality healthcare in poor and rural communities in Nepal and I wanted to continue to make a difference. As a Christian, I believe that the love of God can bring transformation in peoples’ physical, mental, and spiritual lives. After further training as a Surgeon, I worked at United Mission Hospital Tansen, Palpa as a General Surgeon and the Chief of the Department of General Surgery. This very much fit with my values and my sense of calling. As a surgeon, the whole world is an opportunity but Nepal, and especially the hill regions of Nepal’s west and far west were always on my heart. I went to Tansen as a single man, and now am married with three children.
During my time at Tansen, I also joined the INF Nepal Board, which was a very exciting opportunity. INF Nepal is one of the most important missions that God has ordained in Nepal over seventy years now. Joining now as INF’s Green Pastures Hospital [GPH] as the Hospital Director is an extension of this call. Leprosy care has always been an integral part of INF’s work and it has extended this care into other areas of disability. This combination, as well as GPH’s commitment to serving the poor and witnessing to God’s redemptive love really connected with my personal and professional background and drew me to the role after much prayer and discernment.
I am also excited about the prospect of comprehensive disability and chronic disease work through the hospital. I believe in the relevance of GPH as a mission hospital going into the future. The context is changing but INF is still here. One of our challenges is how to retain our identity and character while ensuring our relevance and effectiveness. I look forward to the coming years at GPH, helping the hospital become a centre of excellence in holistic treatment and care for disability, chronic disease and rehabilitation. I feel privileged to be one of GPH’s staff and vision bearers to carry forward its vision and mission. I do ask the whole family for your continuous prayers. INF Australia is a Christian mission serving the physical and spiritual needs of Nepali people
