Health Camp May 2011

Helambu Project held it’s third and biggest Health Camp trek in May with Dr Mike Steven and nurse Pearl Wight returning to the region with a supporting tram of translators and porters. They were also joined by Australian nurse Greg Allen and a ‘pharmacy team’ of Chris Libmurg and Sarah Steven who helped to organise and distribute the medicine.

During their 9 day day trek they assessed and treated over 350 patients at the camps which took place in the villages, schools and retreat centres throughout the region.

Outwith the clinics they also undertook home visits for those too ill to travel and saw people ad-hoc whilst trekking.

Tarkegyang

We held our clinics in the newly constructed primary school which sits around a mile below the Tarkegyang village. We held three clinics over a 2 day period at the school itself and an additional clinic in the community hall at Tarkeyang for the elderly villagers too frail to make the journey downhill. Overall 120 patients were seen with ages ranging from infants to the elderly. With large numbers of people to see, we developed a triage system whereby the villagers would document their personal details and symptoms to a translator following which they’d be directed towards the appropriate medic. If the consultation led to a prescription, they’d see our makeshift pharmacy for the medication. We were careful to give both written and verbal instructions when necessary and the patients were all encouraged to ask questions.

One the morning of the second day we walked up to Help Self Dharma Group Centre, a Buddhist retreat run by Meme Urgyen where we held an open clinic. Dr Mike was also allowed into the residential compound itself to see those individuals who were currently in isolation. This visit was particularly well received as several with ongoing conditions were able to access treatment they would otherwise have done without.

Gangkharka
After a morning walk up to the foot of Ami Yangri, we stopped for a few hours at the mon astery and retreat

as the guests of Sangye Sherpa. We visited two retreat compounds and held impromptu clinics in the small entrance rooms to the buildings, treating several young students in each. The clinics also offered shelter from the early Monsoon downpours we’d been growing used to since our arrival!

After saying goodbye we descended down to Gangkharka village and Pasang Memorial Community school where we would hold clinics over the next two days. On the first day we did routine health checks on around 60 children who had arrived early for the new school term and focused on the wider adult community on day two. Since our last camp 18 months before, it was impressive to see that each child had their own medical folders which documented any ailments they had experienced and what, if any treatment had been given. It was also encouraging to see that the children were in better health and that various infections and skin conditions were under better control. We’d like to pass on our gratitude to the teachers and volunteers for their help in making this progress.

Yangri
Another walk downhill to the village of Yangri where we set up the clinic shortly after arriving and held a busy clinic throughout the rest of the day and into the evening, seeing villagers and patients from the surrounding area.

We were also paid a visit from the pupils from the newly refurbished Yangri Community School, seeing around 90 people during our overnight stop.

Balgoan
A brisk early morning walk uphill to the village of Balgoan where were held a bustling open air clinic in the centre of town.

In the hot summer sun we saw around 80 villagers including the pupils of Balgoan school who arrived en masse at midday. The central location offered little privacy at times but the villagers were unfazed and were more than happy to help each other out! Apart from some sunburn, our final clinic was as successful as the very first.

We left later in the day for a final stop at Baruwa before returning to Kathmandu.

As ever, the hospitality of the people we met was overwhelming and we’d like to thank the community for their kindness and support during our stay. None of this would be possible without Nima Sherpa, Helambu Project’s Field Coordinator in Nepal who organised and led the project. We’d also like to thank our translating team of Tsering, Norbu and Sangye, Pema for the fantastic cooking and the team of porters. Special thanks goes to Aga S?odownik, who raised money towards the medication costs.

As well us holding the clinics, the trek gave us renewed insight into the problems resulting from the lack of any health provision in the area. However, it also provided ideas on how improvements could be made, particularly with regard to developing a more permanent health service for the area. We held discussions with key community figures regarding these issues and plan to update you as things develop.