April was full of excitement as Kathmandu Prashansa Church and Change for Hope were working together to receive the government’s permission to do a medical Camp near the village of Kalitar. With the Medical Camp, we hope to be able to serve 300 patients with minor surgeries, infections, and women’s issues. The success was outstanding as God is always the source and we are but His Means and we received permission in record time.
Sandip in conjunction with the church organized and recruited 11 doctors and nurses. The pastor from Kalitar where we finished some roofs also came and helped.
A local school allowed us to use their facilities which made examinations so much easier as we had separate rooms for minor surgery, women’s issues, pediatrics and general practice, a Physical Therapist, and a certified pharmacist with a trainee. The medical camp had a vulnerable population of over 450 people, who were treated. Two cases of cancer were found, two women were treated for the removal of various skin issues and many infections were treated with medications. Women received gynecological treatment by a female staff member which makes exams so much easier in the rural communities.
Minor surgeries were performed, ears examined, babies treated, the elderly examined and treated, and medications distributed with explicit instructions.
Sagar (Promod Tamang) was the pharmacist in attendance giving back to ChangeforHope. He has been so helpful in the past few years as we paid for his education and start-up clinic fees several years ago. Sagar now has a thriving business, a wife, and two children at a pharmacy outside of Ring Road in Kathmandu. This all came about as he took notes during a medical camp CFH did 10+ years ago and I noticed he was very interested in medicine. Dr. Ooi from Canada came and worked with me that year and was Sagars major supporter during is school years.
We also finished the 11 roofs in the Kalitar village that had been waiting. Now a total of 28 homes ( the entire village) have new roofs so that the people are able to live safer lives during monsoon seasons. They will no longer be subject to leaking water and various vermin living in the grass roofs! The pastor there is working hard at teaching this village about the love Christ has to offer and more people there are being helpful to each other. The fruit trees we planted several years ago are thriving (only a few were eaten by the goats) and many are over 10 feet tall and may produce fruit this year!
In May we will be buying more goats and water buffalo for the most vulnerable: widows and handicapped persons.
This October when I return to Nepal we will continue our efforts in another area with hopefully the following:
- A medical camp
- We are looking into Bee Hives
- In conjunction with another organization, we are looking at putting in stoves that require less fuel and are smokeless chimneys – this will help in the collection of wood as less is needed
- More goat and animal purchases
- Distribution to the most vulnerable of Blankets/food and necessities in rural villages
- Backpacks for children to carry their school supplies during their long walks in mountainous areas
And much more.