Some Program news first.
HearingNEPAL Program has been in the process of developing as an association over the past year.
We became an Incorporated Association and were registered as a Charity in Queensland in November 2012.
We currently have an application in with the Australian Charities & Not-for-profit Commision (to register for taxation status as a charity) and going in this week, an application to AusAid to become an approved overseas aid organisation, which will hopefully get us Donor Gift Recipient status. So our fund-raising program should flow much more smoothly this coming year.
Plans for 2013 – 2014
Our (still to be confirmed) program includes:
- Ladak (India) 6th – 21 July (Keshab, Ngawang Thinley (Kopan), Sue and lew
- Khumbu (lower Solu Khumbu) and also Tsundu’s (Kopan) village – Suketer for the month of October.
- 2014 Sept / Oct, Khunken’s villages – Nubri, lower camp and then high camp in the monastery below Manaslu base camp (about 4000 meters). This is a trekking route and ideal for any volunteers to join us.
Other News
Sue and I met with the Abott of Shechen, Rabjam Rinpoche….and strengthened our ties there. We now have, thanks to Keshab, a weekly clinic in Shechen clinic, now fully equipped ( new ear suction machine, new printer, audiometer, video otoscope and display and primary ear care implements.) We will raise funds to pay for the gear when we get our DGR Status!!! from Ausaid – the AusAid application is about to go in this week – thanks Katie and Tanya. Thanks to Deb for her complete contribution on Child Sex Industry Policy.
And for yourselves, find more causes for happiness in the new year than ever found before!
lew
Best story: Sertung.
It was too dark, damp and cold to continue in the clinic after 4pm, but half an hour or so for Keshab and the boys to play volley ball with the villagers an anxious dad comes to our camp with a very small child in a crib on his back. With very hot little feet, racing pulse, weak wheezing breath, eyes shut it was a distressing presentation. Keshab was quickly extracted and thankfully had infant “Panadol” and amoxin doses, which were given. A puffing, distraught mother then arrived, as they had heard about our camp, and travelled to us from afar, dad had gone ahead with desperate urgency.
We had these drugs for ear related problems, but they were also appropriate for a severe fever and chest infection. Dr Detlev confirmed treatment when he returned from his time-out walk in the hills.
The baby settled in time, and opened her little eyes. The next day, two very relieved parents returned, with a much recovered infant, answering all our prayers.
Dr Detlev, from Germany was making a second visit with us. An eye surgeon, he has been travelling to Nepal and India, working with Sangye from Kopan Monastery, treating infected eyes and handing out prescription glasses. Keshab and lew, the ear team, and enthusiastically supported by Sangye, and new recruits from Kopan monastery Calden and Karma. NAFA sponsored Keshab and Calden as an ongoing expression of their support for our program. Two jeeps, 14 camp staff and porters, with additional porters to carry our equipment supplied by Tawal and Sertung village committees. We knew we were welcome, and it was well circulated that we were coming.
What do we see in villager’s ears? See for yourself!
We arrived at the roads end, and then walked for a few hours up to Tawal. We have been three times before, and the health staff and a teacher, Kancha had it all organised. We also had the cheerful assistance of a Graduate Assistant nurse Bimila Thapa from NAFA’s FEAT program, where they provide post high school education for villagers, Thimi (Kathmandu) and PA Nepal students. See www.nafa.org.au Dr Detlev was also asked to compile a list of cataract surgery candidates, for a Lions surgery camp held in Tawal after our visit. It was three fullfilling days for Detlev, Keshab and team.
Sertung was a new destination, the first under our “strictish” guidelines. They are included here as they also reflect our evolution as a service provider.
VILLAGE CAMP GUIDELINES – HEARINGNEPAL PROGRAM INC
Australians working with Nepalis for the benefit all we meet.
GENERAL CRITERIA;
- We must be invited by the village elders and / or District Committee
- The village must be reasonably accessible
- The period of the clinic will be agreed depending on need and resources available.
- There may BE A CHARGE for the provision of hearing devices and batteries. The amount charged, if any, will be decided with consultation between the parties, prior to announcement of the clinic to the public. It is normal to have a sliding scale of fees, dependent on ability to pay. These moneys may be given to NAHOH to cover material costs or used for local environmental protection and conservation issues
- The cost of getting the team to the village will be the responsibility of the HNP Team, EXCEPT where reasonable, local porters should be supplied to carry equipment and older members of the team’s personal gear.
- The person who is to accompany the team from Kathmandu (Usually the go-between from the village to HNP Inc. Team) shall commit to a prior Hearing care training exercise at either Shechen Monastery or NAHOH or other agreed place. They should also be available for at least one other hearing camp in an unrelated place, for duration of up to ten days.
VILLAGE COMMITMENT
- The village must contribute to the supply of food and shelter to the HearingNEPAL Program Inc.Team for the duration of the visit, if possible. They must also provide adequate security arrangements for team members and equipment. Poor villages will not be disadvantaged.
- The village must inform HNP Inc of he 220V AC power availability, and if not available, the 12V DC Battery power that may be used daily for the project. They must also advise of how the batteries may be recharged.
- The village must supply a person who will accept responsibility for hearing devices left in the village. They shall
- Arrange repairs through Keshab at NAHOH
- Know how the devices operate and be able to fault find and undertake minor repairs
- Manage the sale of batteries and replenish supplies when run down
- Village leaders must be able to coordinate sufficient numbers of local persons requiring hearing related services so that the team is reasonably occupied in an orderly manner during their visit
- We request there be no public ceremonies that may consume valuable clinic time.
- The village must supply a letter from the local committee advising details of compliance of all of the above items, and include local contact persons and phone numbers.
- The village must inform the HearingNEPAL Inc. Team of the availability of a pharmacy / medicines in the area, so that if not the case, drugs will be brought to the area. There may be a charge for drugs unless other arrangements are made before the camp begins.
- LOCAL SCHOOLS: The village must also agree with the local school headmaster that ALL children will come to the clinic for examination. This is the MOST IMPORTANT PART of our program, and the village must also provide estimates of the number of children to be checked.
- The village must agree that there will be no discrimination in the access to our services, giving both sexes and all races, religions, castes and ages the opportunity to benefit.
- Please read our Policy documents, including that on “Terrorism and child sex industry” on our website.
CLINIC OPERATION
- 1. The clinic hours of operation would be normally from 0830 hrs (8.30 am) to 1200 hrs (noon) and then 1300 (1pm) to 1700hrs(5pm)
- 2. The clinic will require at least two separate rooms, one for primary ear care and the other for hearing testing and aid fitting. The testing room should also be in a very quiet location.
- 3. Unless alternate arrangements are made, a prescription for pharmacy items will be issued by Keshab, and the person receiving treatment shall be responsible for the purchase of the medicines.
Sue Tuck, President HearingNEPAL Program Inc. www.himalayanhealthandhearing.org info@himalayanhealthandhearing.org
Variations for Tawal and Sertung included NAFA sponsorship of drugs and travelling expenses for Keshab and Calden. The village also contributed food, which was a fresh addition to the protein allocation of a tin of fish or spam per day shared between 6.
And the “by the way benefit” was the beauty of the country and the people we experienced on our two day trek up the valley to Sertung.
We stopped for lunch and to pose by bridges!
The “Ganesh Himal Community Learning Centre” President Ram Singh Tamang and his bevy of traditionally dressed assistants escorted us into the village, and worked tirelessly alongside us until we left five days later. The staff from the Government clinic where we were based added to the support. Four days in Sertung plus the three in Tawal enabled 1600 plus villagers to attend the eye and ear camps. Detlev and team fitted 900 pairs of glasses and gave his last eye drops to the last attendees, in the fading light of the last day. The local ladies assisted with the fitting of glasses, and the checking of the fitting. He also referred 70 Tawal and 127 Sertung persons to the Tawal cataract surgery camp, which has been successfully completed.
Keshab exhausted his supply of tablets, drops, and ointments. We fitted mini and maxi assistive listening devices where we were certain they would be cared for and of significant benefit. Younger ones seeking hearing aids have been invited to Kathmandu for free fittings
We were also keen to discuss with the committee how they could address the alarming increase in plastic rubbish, littering the paths and streams. They are used to discarding organic substances, but need serious education and plans to deal with the new threat of plastics in their environment. Incinerators which would act as collection points and enable higher temperature burning was the plan, Detlev and lew providing funding for steel and cement, and the region to supply local materials and construction of at least eighteen incinerators. Over the fours days we were there, Ram Sing organised for the river and the area around the clinic to be cleaned up. A program of environmental care will be introduced into the schools, and Detlev and lew will live with hope.
Keshab checks his gear, as enrolments are underway.
The best picture of monk Calden was taken at Tawal, as he enrols students , moms, dads, minors and majors.
The enrolling and crowd control was done by the Sertung volunteers. It was good that first contact with our program was through familiar faces, and all proceeded smoothly.
Rejoice!
