The Lions Club of Pokhara Annapurna has organised two major health camps, with the support of Central Queensland University, Australia (CQU), and the Fishtail Hospital in Pokhara.
We had eight doctors from Fishtail Hospital and twenty five nursing students from CQU. Two memorable health camps were the rural health camps held at Sirsikot Shyangza and Dampus Kaski on the 22nd and 29th of November, 2014. These experiences were very rewarding. Each village came to greet us. There was music, dancing, flowers, red tikas and huge smiles. It was a very emotional moment for our members, especially when they saw the elderly people in serious need of treatment.
We provided the following services:
- General medicine
- Paediatrics
- Gynaecology
- Orthopaedics
- General surgery
- Ear, nose and throat care
- Ultrasounds
- Electrocardiograms.
It was the first time that ultrasounds and electrocardiograms were available in such a remote area. We were able to check approximately 350 patients at Sirsikot Shyangza and 250 patients at Dampus Kaski. We distributed approximately 60,000 rupees worth of free medicine.
Coming together for this health camp had multiple additional benefits. It enabled a wonderful cultural exchange between the Australian students and the Nepali citizens, and promoted village tourism. While we were there, we changed the school roof and built school toileting facilities as well.
These rural health camps provide a valuable and necessary service to the people of rural Nepal. Without the tireless effort of the members of the Fishtail Hospital, the Lions Club of Pokhara Annapurna and the students of CQU, many of these essential health services would not be available to those living in rural areas.
