DATE: Visit 17th Oct to 31st Oct 2010

PURPOSE:

  1. Confirm order and specifications for solar power system for Tawal Clinic and school (We need a reliable power source so that we can take diagnostic equipment to our January 2011 camp, when we intend to check most of the school children)
  2. Make arrangements for payment and installation of solar system ($5K- donated by sulu )
  3. Introduce Ross and Brenda (NAFA Officials) to NAHOH Clinic in Kirtipur (Macha Bhai and Keshab), demonstrate their service capability to local community and value of NAFA contribution to reliable power system installed
  4. Meet with Kopan Monastery officials and establish basis for Kopan monks to work with Nahoh in primary ear care program and rehabilitation including hearing device fitment.
  5. Arrange for meeting NAHOH (Machabhai and Keshab) and Kopan (Sangye and Ani Fran) to organise Kopan school ear camp for all students
  6. Meet with Surendra (Thimi VSN school) and confirm ear camp ( for all students) dates with Nahoh
  7. Participate in Thimi school ear camp
  8. Participate in Carpet factory Ear camp
  9. Review hearing aid fittings at Thimi, Kopan and IGHouse
  10. Meet with JOY Foundation officials – present program details, request a space in their office for a cupboard to house equipment and consumables used at all sites.
  11. Present NAHOH with new video otoscope and screen and Ultra Vac hearing aids cleaning and drying system, and additional 7 Bernafon hearing aids
  12. Train Nahoh in use of new equipment, also in new Spira tube/ domes fitment to hearing aids and programming, train in use of new Phonak software program so that aids already in their possession can be individually programmed
  13. Stock take consumables to prepare for replenishment in Jan 2011

DIARY:

Mon 18/2/2010

  • Meet at NAHOH – Kirtipur with Ross and Brenda (NAFA)
  • Present items listed above and commence training.
  • Observe clinic “in action” with local clients
  • Enjoy lunch provided by NAHOH

Tuesday 19/10/2010

Machabhai on phone

Macha Bhai, president of NAHOH can finally hear on the phone!

  • Lew to NAHOH- Kitipur. Observe clinic activities
  • Software training Bernafon and Phonak
  • Fit Bernafon PRIO 112 to Machabhai, who was unable to hear on phone with other aid. This was extremely frustrating for the President of NAHOH, not to mention those attempting to communicate. The photo tells the success story.

Wednesday 20/10/2010

  • Liaise with Chandra- Solar for Tawal
  • Liaise with Surendra- Thimi school ear camp
  • Sangye- Kopan / NAHOH cooperation

Thursday 21/10/2010

Geshe Tsering, Sangye & Black Bear

Kopan Clinic fit two new persons – oops, now there is a very chatty Geshe at Kopan….

There is that bear again, this time observing Geshe Tsering being instructed on hearing aid care by Sangye- manager of Kopan clinic

Friday 22/10/2010

  • Personal study day

Saturday 23/10/2010 to Monday 25/10/2010 KOPAN Monastery

  • Tashi, a veteran of our hearing program (Tsum valley camp and Kopan Clinic) had his appendix out
  • Follow up hearing aids fitted on Thursday
  • Sort and stock take equipment and stores in our new cupboard at the clinic

Tashi said he had appendicitis when we were in Tsum in June – so he gave us enough notice!

Monday 25/10/2010

  • Arrange meeting at Kopan Monastery with Sangye, Ani Fran, and Choktar from the school to discuss future strategies and school primary ear care camp
  • IGHouse – fit new mould to Tsering and replace dawa’s faulty aid
  • Train Keshab in new Bernafon “Spira” system of hearing aid tubing (1.3mm bore) / domes. This should reduce costs up to $50 for many of the hearing aid fittings, i.e. not having to fit temporary moulds and then a custom mould made in Australia on the next visit. More profound losses will still need this system.
  • We are extremely grateful to the nice people at Phonak Australia who have provided the power domes that enhance the Bernafon system. Wonderful co-operation guys!
  • Dinner with Keshab and his wife Saraswoti – Keshab is a volunteer Ear Assistant at NAHOH and is supported by Saraswoti and his family – nice to meet and thank them.

Tuesday 26/10/2010

  • AM meeting with Chandra and Nafa’s Ross and Brenda and the solar engineer. All stuff sorted!
  • Move equipment and supplies into our new cupboard at JOY Foundation. Thanks Nafa supporter (a Senator I think) for the cupboard and Raju Shresta (President of JOY Foundation)
  • PM: Address JOY Board members and gathering of supporters re our programs core function of promoting primary ear care through education and checking as many people as possible, and assisting with a rehabilitative path (medical treatment / referral and hearing devices where possible) Thank you so much guys for your interest and support.

Thursday 28/10/2010

  • Visit Surendra at Thimi VSN School with NAHOH (Machabhai and Keshab) and make arrangements to commence school ear camp for all students
  • Agree to attend Carpet factory medical clinic on Saturday. Thankyou so much to Keshab and Machabhai for giving their time and skill so freely. What good hearts they have. Thanks also to the young lady that also volunteers her time to assist them on the camps. (Awaiting correct spelling before her name gets to appear!)

Friday and Saturday

  • Ear camps at Thimi and the carpet factory

Update 18th November 2010

    1. Tawal remote village: Solar panels and power/lighting/fridge installed at health clinic. This will enable a vaccination program to maintained to surrounding areas (fridge) and we shall be able to take a full battery of diagnostic equipment for our ear camp – testing all local children in January 2011
    2. All children at Kopan Monastery are being tested
    3. 271 children and teachers were tested at Thimi

And big thanks to new program donors,

      • Whitsunday Lions Club – so generous
      • Bernafon Australia – special thanks this time to Emir who reconditions relinquished hearing aids
      • Word of Mouth, Andrew thanks for 5 maxi listening devices
      • Sonic Innovations –Werner, thanks for the equipment
      • Local supporters, Dewachen Buddhist Centre, Mary Toomey, Annie Quested, Terry Hudson, Kevin Poschelt, Rob Kenyon,

Dedication: That all of our combined efforts reduce suffering and become the basis for a better quality of life for those we meet.