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Lewis and I (Roshanna) spent two weeks volunteering with Mountain Heart Nepal in Najing, which is a remote community within the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. We focused our efforts on teaching English in the local school and providing training in nursing skills at the local clinic.

We were welcomed into our host family and they wasted no time in making us feel like family ourselves. The kids were amazing and we also got to share the house with the English teacher of the local school, who was a great help for developing our communication skills in Nepalese! They put in so much effort to make sure we weren’t lacking in anything: we received three meals a day (Radha is an amazing cook!), had a spacious bedroom -that could house four people- available to us to sleep in and there’s nothing like taking a shower with refreshing mountain water. Don’t worry, we could boil the water as well for warm showers or safe drinking. That is, when the electricity was up, from sundown to sunrise. When it comes to a power supply; waste not, want not! Because of all the efforts of the people we stayed with, it was comfortable to adapt to less luxury than we are usually used to. You really can’t even think about complaining about an outside toilet when the surrounding hills are so beautiful anyway. So we settled in very easily and were eager to contribute to this warm and welcoming community!

I started my days working in the Community Clinic for a few hours. The clinic opened its doors a year ago and since the nearest hospital is at least a 3 hour trek away, it serves as the central medical hub for the surrounding three villages and their combined population of about 1500 people. The daily running of this clinic falls on the shoulders of three (three!) people: a health assistant who adopts the role of the doctor in the community, a midwife and a general assistant. Officially, the clinic is open 6 days a week from 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon, but the reality of the matter is that these people are on call basically 24/7. There is some government funding for the clinic (regarding elderly care and monthly vaccination checkups for mothers and their newborns), but there is a huge need for the community to come together when it comes to the wellbeing of others. For example, there is no ambulance service available and communication channels are very limited, so often people are brought in by family, friends or fellow villagers on makeshift stretchers to make sure they are tended to in the clinic. Regarding any resources or infrastructure beyond that. the clinic can only rely on donations and fundraising from external resources, which are barely enough to get by and not substantial enough to treat every case accordingly.

A variety of patients rely on the clinic and show up when they need help. The staff and community are constantly challenged to come up with resourceful and creative solutions to provide people with the best possible help for their problem, which is essential because of the lack of equipment. For instance, often people come calling with respiratory pathology (COPD, pneumonia, chest infections, etc). The clinic, however, has no modern devices for Sp02-monitoring, oxygen- or nebuliser therapy available, so this does not particularly facilitate diagnosis and treatment. The clinic and community get by with what they have -sometimes by torchlight if the power cuts out- to treat the wide variety of cases (dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as typhoid, gastroenteritis, head injuries and so on). Additional services rely heavily on fundraising and donations, that are chronically insufficient to provide all of the equipment that is needed. Doing what we could,  I was happy that I could identify some problematic areas and help the community in an educational and prevention-oriented fashion.

I provided teaching on ‘The spread of infection and importance of hand hygiene’, as through my observations I found this very relevant. I made up posters, had them translated and we enjoyed discussing and going over the hand hygiene technique. I also provided basic life support training, from paediatric to adult – choking and CPR. I had to improvise due to there being no resuscitation doll but felt accomplished and reassured that the staff now know how to deal with these kinds of situations. As a backup and a reference, I also provided flowcharts of each scenario. The staff were very happy and appreciative, and teaching this to people who really wanted to learn was a great and fulfilling experience!

I would join Lewis for English classes in the local school after my daily involvement in the clinic to find very welcoming pupils that were so eager to learn! The school (only closed on Saturday) was organised in a way that after the daily national anthem and brain training exercises, the different groups would get taught in 8 lesson periods of 40 minutes each. During the day, each group would also have a free period and we got to work with groups 1 through 8 (ages 5 to 14) during those free periods. The kids were very interested in learning about new things in new ways! We taught greetings, colours, emotions, prepositions, body parts, animals, weather, natural disasters, fruits and vegetables and shapes in our time here. The kids were very excited and the use of songs and games were very appreciated as well as fun!

During our time here we also saw the effects of landslides on the community, and a number of families had to leave their homes and move into emergency housing. Luckily nobody was harmed. Since the earthquake in April 2015, the land has become cracked in many places and when the monsoons come to these cracks fill with water, causing devastating landslides. Some of the people who are living down the hill will have to rebuild their homes elsewhere as the land on which they previously resided has become too dangerous. Many others did move back as the situation has become safer, but will likely have to move again when the monsoons come again next year. The only safe option is to relocate and rebuild on new land, but this is often very expensive and many of these people are farmers cannot afford this. The local community rallies together once again and they are collectively working and gathering funds to help in such cases.

The area itself has beautiful views and each walk is an awe-inspiring experience. There is so much nature around you, the air is beyond fresh and there are loads of waterfalls to discover. The locals are always friendly and willing to show you around the breathtaking surroundings. The school even organized a wonderful farewell for us with lots of dancing and an amazing ceremony in which we were decorated with lots of scarves and flowers.

In reflection, we had an amazing experience being part of the community and could see a real spirit of solidarity among its people. We were welcomed into homes and treated like family. If you are looking for a unique volunteering experience in Nepal then we highly recommend going here. We have truly had our hearts warmed by this experience and will keep this with us forever.

The post Our experiences working within a remote community of the Everest Region – Lifechanging! appeared first on Mountain Heart Nepal.

Ten people are sitting in a 4×4 enjoying the breathtaking scenery that has ever been seen. We are in Nepal, driving through the foothills of the Himalayas, passing traditional villages alongside the beautiful Sunkoshi River. However, this is not a private trip to the village as I’m with the doctors of Mountain Heart Nepal during a journey to the village of Purano Jhagajoli in the Sindhuli district to afford medical services to villagers in rural belt who are still suffering from a trauma of last year’s devastating earthquake.

I was accompanied by Aban Gautam, the leader and founder of Mountain Heart Nepal. He seemed to laugh with his fellow doctors and the atmosphere is incredibly thrilling. When I asked Aban what inspired him to start Mountain Heart Nepal, he says ‘… there are shortages of doctors in the aftermath of the earthquake, most of the NGO’s working here have medical clinics but are running sans medicines. Villagers would walk for hours to these clinics and complain about joint pain, gastroenteritis and conjunctivitis. Only to receive a simple multivitamin, as if that would fix all of their ailments.’

He further added, ‘what makes MHN unique is that not only do we bring our own doctors, but we also bring our own stockpiles of medicine, and have a referral system for our patients which enables us to treat our patients much more effectively.’

Shortly, we are greeted by local officials of the town. Aban is swept into a conversation with them. Other doctor named Angela tells me that the Village Development Council wants to set up the medical camp at a clinic we passed on the highway, which is just thirty-minute drive back the way we had come. I look back at Aban and the council members. The discussion is very heated. Aban is against erecting a medical camp at the highway. He announces that we are going to set up our medical camps inside a local school. ‘Setting up our medical camp on the highway would have been a bad move. We unstrap the boxes of medical supplies from the roof of the 4×4 and began erecting the medical camp inside the school. The doctors put on their masks, gloves and a banner is hung out before the camp to advertise MHN’s medical camp. Within a few minutes, a hoard of the patient rush to our camps. Many of whom are elderly women. After an hour there is a long queue near the camp, children are outside, looking with curiosity at the flurry of activity that is going on at their school. Enthusiastic villagers give their prescriptions to the two nurses who offer them medicine in return. Once villagers get their medicine, many begin the long walk to their homes while others started talking with their neighbours.

Behind the clinic, I saw a huge group comprising of men, women and children sitting in the shade and engaged in the discussion. It is obvious to see that MHN’s medical camps not only help prevent disease but also help bring the community together. It’s been three hours since we have arrived, and a Village Development Councilwoman announces that the medical camp is almost complete and that a public forum will be held in the classroom. I accompany the doctors and nurses inside and see that the room is already filled with people, those who cannot fit inside stand outside the door or a window and listen.

The Village Council Woman formally introduces the NHS staff with various local leaders to express their gratitude to MHN for setting up a medical camp for the day. The councilwoman then asks the villagers for feedback. On the occasion, a man tells villagers not to be shyed way while talking to a team of medico. He also requests MHN for a longer duration health camp, so that the doctors can build better relationships with patients. He opines that a three-day camp would give them enough time to make the journey to receive medical care. In the end, the audience stands up and applauds the doctors as the latter walk to load up the 4×4.In total, four doctors managed to treat two hundred and sixty-two people within three hours. That is what makes Mountain Heart Nepal special. Since its founding in June of 2015, MHN has treated over fifteen thousand patients and has held more than twenty medical camps.

Joshua McCowen is a student from the United States of America. He attends Mount St. Mary’s University and is an international studies and political science major.

The post An indelible health camp in Himalaya – Joshua McCowen appeared first on Mountain Heart Nepal.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to visit Nepal. I don’t even know what initially piqued my interest, but I knew that one day I had to make the journey. I recently quit my job, sold my home, bought a one-way ticket to Asia, and here I am. I’m a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and I know nutritional deficiencies are widespread, not only in Nepal, but in other south East Asian countries, as well. Additionally, child stunting is all too prevalent (current statistics show 41 percent of the children are stunted, indicating chronic undernutrition), and I asked myself what culturally appropriate changes could be made to improve the nutritional status of the people. After all, improved nutrition has a positive impact on overall health and well being.

Prior to my arrival, I did a lot of research on the varied cuisines found in this country. As an RDN, I look at foods with an analytical eye. There are so many healthy components to the Nepali diet. Meals are made twice a day with local, fresh ingredients. A variety of vegetables are served alongside the national dish- “Dal Bhat Tarkari.” Lentils are eaten almost every day, and the country produces some very nutrient dense crops such as mango, papaya, banana, taro leaves, mustard greens, and the list goes on. Additionally, the Nepali government is working to promote certain crops to target some of the nutrient deficiencies found here. Sweet potatoes have been introduced for their high content of Vitamin A, and water spinach (ipomoea aquatica), is high in Vitamins A and C and also contains some iron. Not only are there a lot of healthy foods consumed here, the flavor is amazing! I’ve always loved Indian food, so I was excited to come to Nepal to learn about the similarities in the cuisine. I love all the garlic, hot peppers, chili powder, turmeric, cumin, and coriander that is used. But the list doesn’t end there. Fresh, warm ghee poured atop of fluffy white rice enhances flavor and adds texture, different lentils and beans mixed with various chutneys, pickled fruits and vegetables, and yogurt are some of my favorite snacks found in small cafes and with street vendors. I could go on. And to enhance my taste buds even further, I spent 6 weeks in Mongolia before flying into Kathmandu. While I like eating meat, (the Mongolians eat LOTS) the flavor is lacking. The two most flavorful meals I had there were in Indian restaurants!

You can see my praise for the Nepali diet, but unfortunately, it has some downfalls as well. Most of the population consumes a high staple diet, mainly rice. Staples, especially white rice, fill us with calories, but often lack sufficient nutrients the body needs for optimal functioning. While dal (lentils) are super nutritious and a good source of protein, they are typically served as a side, made into a soup, reducing the overall amount of actual lentils consumed. I always say, “More dal, less bhat!” Let’s switch the ratio. How about a pile of dal and a few spoonfuls of rice? That would significantly increase the nutrient profile of a meal. A cup of cooked lentils provides nearly 20 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber. White rice only provides about 5 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber, not to mention, most of the nutrients have been eliminated during processing.

The rates of protein energy malnutrition and child stunting show many people do not get adequate amounts of protein in their diet. Adding more lentils is a way to help meet protein needs, and chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy products, such as milk and yogurt are also helpful. Consuming a wide variety of different colored fruits and vegetables helps us get many of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need. Luckily, all of these foods are available, especially in Kathmandu.

What will you do to improve your “Dal Bhat Tarkari?” Try my simplified Nepali inspired “Dal Tarkari.” It’s simple, nutritious, and delicious. It’s vegetarian appropriate and even more vegetables can be added if you’d like! Nutrition is important. A healthy meal doesn’t have to be boring or bland. Try some of these foods today and improve your health and well being!

The post More Dal less Bhat! appeared first on Mountain Heart Nepal.

एक वर्षअघि आएको भूकम्पले नेपालमा धेरै जनधनको क्षती भयो । भूकम्पका कारण लडेका संरचनाहरुले धेरै घाइते भए । लगातारको परकम्पनले मानिसहरुमा मानसिक तनाव सिर्जना गर्यो । भूकम्प लगत्तै अस्पतालमा घाइतेहरुको भिड बढ्यो । हामी एमबिबिएसको पढाई सकेर इन्टर्नसिपको तयारीमा थियौँ । अस्पतालमा घाइतेको भिडपछि हामी निरन्तर उपचार सेवामा खटियौँ । तर, मलाई स्वास्थ्य संस्थामा आउन सक्नेको मात्र उपचार गरेर पुग्दैन भन्ने लाग्यो । मसँगै अन्य साथीहरुलाई पनि त्यस्तै लागिरहेको रहेछ ।

भूकम्पले घाइते बनाएका धेरै मानिसहरु चोटपटक र समस्या लिएर गाउँमै बसेका छन् । उनीहरुले समयमा उपचार नपाएमा गम्भीर समस्या निम्तिन सक्छ भन्ने हामीलाई लाग्यो । त्यसपछि हामी प्रभावित क्षेत्रका गाउँमा सञ्चालित क्याम्पमा जान थाल्यौँ । त्यसक्रममा हामीले धेरैको पिडा देख्यौँ । धेरैलाई उपचार सेवा प्रदान गर्नुपर्ने अवस्था देखियो । र, हामी साथिहरु नै मिलेर एउटा माउन्टेन हर्ट नेपाल नामक संस्था गठन गर्यौ । हामीले प्रभावित जिल्लाका सुगम क्षेत्रमा भन्दा पनि दुर्गम र ग्रामिण भेगका जनतालाई उपचार सेवा दिने निर्णय गर्यौ । सुगम क्षेत्रका र स्वास्थ्य संस्था नजिक भएका क्षेत्रका मानिसहरुले सहजै उपचार पाउन सक्छन् । तर, टाढा टाढा गाँउका मानिसले उपचार सेवा पाउँदैनन् भनेर हामीले उक्त निर्णय गरेका थियौँ ।

भूकम्पपछि घाइतेको चोटपटकमा मात्र हामीले मनमा लागेको चोटमा समेत मलम लगाउनु पथ्र्याे । लगातारको कम्पन र त्यती ठूलो विपत्तिपछि धेरैमा मानसिक समस्या पनि देखिएको थियो । त्यसका लागि हामीले मनोपरामर्शदाता तथा विज्ञ चिकित्सकहरुको टिम समेत लिएर जाने गरेका थियौँ । उपचारका क्रममा हामीले धेरैका टुटेका हड्डी जोड्यौँ, घाउमा मल्हम लगायौँ । ठोक्किएका अंगहरुमा मालिस गर्यौ । औषधि दिनेदेखि गरिब परिवारलाई ठूला अस्पतालमा शल्यक्रिया गर्नका लागि आवश्यक पर्ने रकम समेत दियौँ । भूकम्पपछिको हालसम्मको अवधिमा भूकम्पबाट अति प्रभावित जिल्लामध्ये ९ वटा जिल्लाका २० भन्दा बडि स्थानमा हामीले स्वास्थ्य शिविरहरु चलाएका थियौँ । उक्त शिविरमा हामीले १५ हजार भन्दा धेरैलाई उपचार सेवा दिन सक्यौँ । भूकम्पका घाइतेमात्र होइन दीर्घ रोग भएका बिरामीको समेत उपचार गर्यौं ।

शिविर लिएर जाने क्रममा दोलखामा हामीले बिच बाटोमा एक जना मानिस रगताम्मे भएर लडिरहेको भेटेका थियौँ । दोलखाको हावा भन्ने ठाउँमा ती मानिस बेहोस अवस्थामा थिए । उनको शरिरको एउटा भागमा खुकुरी प्रहार गरिएको थियो । सदरमुकाम चरिकोटबाट ५/६ घण्टा टाढा उक्त स्थानमा लडेका ति व्यक्तिलाई हामीले शिविर चलाउने स्थानमा लग्यौँ । हामीसँग भएका स्रोतसाधनबाट उपचार गर्यौ । मध्यरातमा खुकुरी प्रहारबाट घाइते भएका ति मानिस रगतले भिजेर झिँगा भन्किरहेको अवस्थामा बिहान हामीले भेटेका थियौँ । करिब ३ बजेतिर उनले पिसाब फेर्न सके । स्वास्थ्यमा सुधार आयो र उनलाई चरिकोटमा थप उपचारका लागि हामीले पठायौँ । अहिले उनी निको भैसकेका छन् ।

राजधानीबाट निकै नजिक रहेको ओखरपौवामा समेत हामीले शिविर लगेका थियौँ । डम्पिङ साइड क्षेत्रमा मानिसले उचित उपचार पाउन नसकेको जानकारी पाएपछि हामी त्यहाँ पुगेका थियौँ । नभन्दै त्यहाँको अवस्था निकै नाजुक थियो । मानिसहरुका सबै घर लडेका थिए । टहरो राख्ने जमिन समेत थिएन । जसका कारण उनीहरु भत्किएको संरचनामा नै पाल बेरेर बसेका थिए । जथाभावी दिसापिसाब गरिएको थियो । गाउँ नै गन्हाइरहेको थियो । काठमाडौंबाट नजिकै भएर पनि मानिसहरुले घाउको उपचार गरेका थिएनन् । धेरैको घाउ पाकेको थियो । चोटपटकमा औषधि लगाइएको थिएन । हाम्रो टिमले उनीहरुलाई उपचार दिनुका साथै पोषणयुक्त खानेकुरा र झुल समेत बाँड्यौँ । दुःखमा डुबिरहेका उनीहरुको अनुहारमा थोरै भए पनि मुस्कान फर्कियो । हामीले त्यहाँका बालबालिकालाई तनाव र डरबाट मुक्त गराउन सांगित कार्यक्रमहरु समेत गरेका थियौँ । नाँच्दै गाउँदै बालबालिकालाई हसाउन सफल भयौँ ।

शिविर लिएर हामी निकै दुर्गम क्षेत्रमा समेत पुगेका छौँ । नुवाकोटको घ्याङफेदीस्थित सिसिपु भन्ने स्थानमा समेत हामी शिविर लिएर गयौँ । उक्त स्थानमा हिँडेर जान नै ७ दिन लाग्छ भन्ने हामीलाई स्थानीयले जानकारी दिएका थिए । हामी त्यहाँ हेलिकप्टरमा गएका थियौँ । त्यहाँ कुनै पनि मेडिकल टिम पुगेको थिएन । भूकम्प गएको दुई महिनापछि हामी पुग्दा त्यहाँका मानिसको भाँचिएका हड्डी आफैँ जोडिसकेका थिए । उपचार नै नगरी जोडिएका हात तथा खुट्टाहरु बाङ्गा भएका थिए भने दुःखाईका कारण मानिसहरु रोइरहेका थिए । भाँचिएको हातका हड्डी उपचार नै नगरि जोडिएका कारण दायाँबायाँ घुमाउन समेत नमिल्ने भएको रहेछ । शरिरमा लागेको चोटको उपचार नहुँदा घाउँहरु पोकेका थिए । हामीले उनीहरुलाई उपचार दियौँ । शल्यक्रिया गर्नुपर्नेलाई रिफर गर्यौँ । धेरै रकम खर्चिनु पर्नेलाई छुटको व्यवस्था गर्नेगरी काठमाडौंका अस्पतालमा आउने व्यवस्था गर्यौँ ।

हाम्रो शिविरका क्रममा हामीले चोटपटक, टुटेका हड्डीलाई मात्र जोडेनौँ । तनावमा रहेका र राहतको अभावमा टुटेको मन लिएर बसेकालाई समेत जोड्ने काम भयो । धेरैका आँशुलाई हाँसोमा परिणत गर्न सफल भयौँ । उपचारका क्रममा लामो समयदेखी हड्डी र जोर्नीका समस्या भएकालाई अकुपन्चर सेवा समेत दियौँ । सरकारी उपचार सेवा नपुगेको स्थानमा हामी पुगेर उपचार सेवा दिँदा गाँउलेहरुले आशिर्वाद प्रदान गरे । उहाँहरुको आशिर्वादले हामीलाई थप हौसला प्रदान गरेको छ । पिडित क्षेत्रको उपचारको हाम्रो यो यात्रा अझै पनि जारी रहनेछ ।

तर, दुर्भग्य भूकम्पको एक वर्षसम्म पनि सरकारले पिडित परिवारलाई पाल र टहोरोबाट माथि ल्याउन सकेन । विस्तारै बढ्दै गएको गर्मी र वर्षातले पिडित परिवारमा थप अर्को पिडाले सताउँछ कि भन्ने डरले सताइरहेको छ ।सरकारले यो विषयमा तत्कालै केही निर्णय र कदम नचालने हो भने पिडित परिवारमा सरुवा रोग तथा अन्य किराजन्य रोगले सताउन सक्छ । यो विषयमा सरकारले उचित कदम चालिहाल्नुपर्छ । सँगसँगै हामीले पनि आफ्ना स्थानबाट यो क्षेत्रमा काम अगाडी बढाउने छौँ ।

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