Mission accomplished

Around two dozen of US medical and non-medical volunteers arrived in Kathmandu, as planned, on 8^th March, under the leadership of Mr. Randy Baker (founder of Ed 4 Nepal Inc., USA). More than two dozen of nurses from SANN Nursing Institute and doctors from Nepal were ready to depart from Kathmandu in the morning of 10^th March. Dr. Shyam was leading the Nepalese doctor's team.

Convoy of a dozen TATA Sumo left Kathmandu for the mission. In an hour, we were ready to drive through the narrow dusty lanes of Hills in Nuwakot district. The drivers were trained enough for driving in such rough terrain. It took nearly four hours to cover 30 km stretch to the proposed Community hospital site (which is being built by our NGO with financial aid from Ed 4 Nepal Inc.-an US NGO).

Upon arrival, people from this development-hungry village gave a grand welcome reception to the participants. The local community might be hoping to get what they wanted since long, albeit from charitable organizations instead of the government. Participants were overwhelmed by the grand reception. Around three thousand people were present during reception in such a place where habitation is sparsely located.

There were many Korean-American, Indian-American and American volunteers from USA. I was really impressed seeing the volunteers who were fighting dust, risking life in unmettalled and curvy hilly roads, sleeping in temporary tents in such a windy and cold night for helping people they donot know.

I came across a volunteer and curiously asked what she is thinking about the life in US and in Nepal and what made her to go for such social work . She said- "Look, we are well-off and have everything that is required in life and still we are not happy. When we die we can not take what we possess today with us. Materialistic possession is not everything in life. We get immense satisfaction from such social works." Really that is. If more and more such angels could be grouped together, poorest of the poor in the world could be provided a better medical facility in life.

My involvement in this mission is due to reasons similar to that only. My heart filled with joy when more than a thousand people were provided with free health-check up facility in six day camp. Few serious patients were immediately transferred to hospitals in Kathmandu; around 20 cases of 4^th degree Uterine Prolapsed patients are undergoing free surgery in Helping Hands hospital in Kathmandu.

The news of the camp was covered by local media. There was huge participation of people from around one dozen villages. Senior political leaders were invited during closing ceremony. There were many bottlenecks during the camp. Still it was one of the best ever free medical camp organized by any NGO in Nepal's history. We have a plan to organize a 'follow-up camp' in November 2009. Your participation (doesn't matter whether you are from medical background or not) in this upcoming camp is highly requested.

For more detail, please refer to our website: www.he4n.org and please feel free to contact me at lama_nd@rediffmail.com

Best regards,

N.D. Lama