Medical Trek Treats 1100 in Nepal
Medical Trek Treats 1100 in Nepal
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The October medical camp hosted by The Mountain Fund brought a team of over 20 medical persons to the Rasuwa District of Nepal. Doctors and nurses from the USA and Canada saw nearly 1100 patients during the course of the trek.
We started in Kalikasthan, pictured above, where Mountain Fund sponsors the Kalika Community Hospital. Open only one year ago this hospital is already the most modern and well-equipped facility in the district and features x-ray, medical laboratory, ECG, fifteen bed in-patient facilities, delivery room and now, thanks to the medical team on this trek an ultrasound as well.
We combined some great trekking on the Tamang Trail with medical camps in Thulo Syabru and Thambuchet. In Thulo Syabru we saw approx. 200 patients and used the new school for our clinic. Mountain Fund has a small clinic in Thulo Syabru but, owing the large size of our medical team, opted to utilize the school so as to afford enough space for the many services provided on the trek. We had dental, eye, obgyn, orthopedics, family medicine and emergency medical personnel in this group of over 20 medical professionals.
In Thambuchet, a one day trek from Thulo Syabru, we had double duty of hosting a one day clinic and equipping and opening our new 24/7 birthing center. The center was built by the government but is equipped and staffed by The Mountain Fund. At present we have one nurse-midwife working there and hope to add a second soon. Under the government run birthing program, women are paid 1500nrs travel costs to give birth in the center as part of the governments move to reduce both infant and maternal mortality rates.
If you'd like to be a part of a trip like this, or support a trip like this, contact Scott MacLennan at mtnfund@mountainfund.org. We are currently making plans for two treks in Spring 2010.
