Anu Kashyap Volunteering in Nepal

For the last four months, I have been living in Nepal and volunteering with an organization called Child Haven International (www.childhaven.ca). I would like to share my story and pictures about this amazing life changing experience.

EYE CAMP
Part of the experience was to experience things I would never have a chance to do at home. One of the board members of CHI-N, Dr. Yanta Mani Pradhan a pioneering eye specialist runs the Lions Eye Care Centre in Kathmandu.  Besides day-to-day eye check-ups and cataract surgery, Dr. Pradhan and his team take their services to remote locations of Nepal to help those who cannot make the trip to Kathmandu.   I had an opportunity to attend an eye camp in the Helumbu region of Nepal. I spent my days off at the hospital learning all the necessary skills for the initial pre-screening of eyes.  There was a team of nine who headed to Helumbu – staff from the eye care center as well four North American volunteers – a doctor, a medical student and two social workers (one of which was me). We had to trek for a day and half to reach Tarkeghyang a village in the Helumbu region. 
 
Over several days we saw over 250 patients. I assisted with screening vision, taking blood pressure, checking pulse and taking down medical history. People came from all over the Helumbu region to get every ache and pain checked out. Some even walked for 2 days to reach us. It was really sad to hear that some of these people had been dealing with these issues for up to 10 years and never had attempted to go to Kathmandu to see a doctor. Our job was made more difficult by the complete lack of facilities at our disposal. We had carried a small supply of basic medicines with us, but otherwise the nearest health post (pharmacy) was a day’s walk away. This meant that anything that could not be diagnosed by a simple medical history and clinical examination or treated by our limited pharmacopoeia, had to be referred to Kathmandu. We were able to diagnosis and treat the most common complaints (gastroenteritis, diaherra, aches and pains and blood pressure) but everything else had to be sent away with a letter from the doctor. We had to ration the medicines to ensure we had enough for both days. But when we started to run out of meds and it became difficult to explain to some that we had nothing to help them with. But the villagers had developed a level of acceptance even of fatalism, to survive in such harsh environments, something we as westerns would not be able to understand. 
 
Probably one of the most eye-opening experiences was seeing a young boy arrive on the grounds with his grandmother on his back.  He had walked for a day up and down several mountains to reach us. His grandmother had lost her sight approximately 3 months ago in both her eyes. Upon examination we discovered that she required cataract surgery in both her eyes.    Over the two days, the medical team completed 6 cataract surgeries and 15 minor surgeries in a make shift operating room at the hotel we were staying at. All operations were done under local anesthetic, which meant that all patients were awake through the procedure. Dr. Pradhan and his assistant conducted surgeries.
 
Overall the experience was an eye-opening experience. Despite the number of problems with the western medical system, we are better off then most of these people.  Even though there are waiting lists for every possible procedure, we still have so much more available to us. I was concerned before I left for the camp, how I would contribute to the camp but somehow I did and I not only learned so much from those around me but about myself. My eyes are no longer closed. 
If you interested in helping or volunteering your medical service, they would be greatly appreciated. Donations of old eye glasses, medicines, medical equipment and most of all your time will always be useful.  
 
http://members.rogers.com/nepal_lions/