Compassion in Action
This time, a dry season visit, also by a two wheel drive jeep, peeling re-treads on the front, bald tyres on the back…all the better for sliding around the dusty corners, on the road to Mt Everest.
275 kilometers in 14 hours, a blowout at 30k/hr is ok.
In our gang, Keshab, now team manager, health / ear assistant trainee Khenrab and health assistant trainee Neema, monks from Kopan Monastery and Pema. Khunken, his brother has asked us to go to Manaslu region, where Pema is a Health Assistant. He has come this time (as per our village agreement) to learn about ears. This camp has been an excellent training opportunity, as in addition to the three above, the local Tibetan Clinic Community Health worker from the Chailsa Monastery Health clinic, pictured above in the foreground, was also present for the whole camp, Keshab his instructor.
Samjhana , now 11 years old, was born with atresia, and so she could hear the same as if we had our fingers in our ears.
Three years ago we fitted her with a bone conductor and she was able to go to school.
Now she sports wraps (thanks to Kumar at Ultra Supplies ) and a Bernafon hat, all discreetly fitted with bone conductors, and hears quite well.
A letter (read HERE) from her head master of the Mt Everest School is self explanatory…the bottom line being we are looking for someone to sponsor additional tuition, to help “close the gap” (stolen phrase from our Government) $35/month is good. This has been arranged by the Geshe Yonten, Manager of the Monastery, and Sandip, a senior monk, 20yrs old has agreed to tutor. Her performance will be checked, before an ongoing commitment is made.
Samjhana and her father are very happy.
Lucky (yes, that’s his name) was back with his sisters . He was able to be bought closer to prescription gain for a child, and his family is so happy.
Like all children he is fitted with two aids and given plenty of free batteries. He also attends school and we are told he is doing well!
All ages, some not so silent…but after 5 visits , 114 hearing devices fitted, and many returns for their annual check-up, the team has won the confidence of the community, and the program is now set for a solid future.
It is so cool, that the people have to sit in the sun for 40 minutes, for the ear impression material to “set”
Some have walked for a day, but they never complain if they are late leaving to go home, just so happy!
Keshab’s father is a tailor, and so he has learned skilfully, proving his ability by reducing the number of ventilation holes in lew’s 42yo jumper. The Tibetan clinic Community health worker, student of Keshab, Tsering Dhonden is being multi skilled!
The old “Table of Knowledge” now deserted after failing to literally support our team.
Not to be “put out”, our team sponsored a new table, using some timbers from the Monastery store.
They were last seen painting it!