The nurse who wanted to heal Rasuwa

Pratima Tamang Lama was a nurse, community worker, and ambitious local leader who dreamed of becoming Nepal’s health minister. The Bhotekoshi flood cut those dreams short.

Pratima Tamang Lama was a headstrong woman who simply could not be persuaded to put herself first. She wore many hats—she was a nurse, a former volleyball player and the vice-chair of Gosaikunda Rural Municipality. Until August 21, Pratima was in Kathmandu for treatment of migraine, with which she was struggling for years. Her husband, KD Lama, had asked her to stay in the capital city for a specialist appointment. But Pratima insisted on returning to Rasuwa, citing urgent municipal work.