MOBILE HEALTH CAMP UPDATES
Post by Niroj Shrestha, edited by Harinee Suthakar
Day 1:
Early morning at 6:45 a.m., Rukmini Foundation staff and volunteers assembled in Manmohan Community Hospital to prepare for the day. The mission was to serve people in Simpani Village. The journey began at 7:30 a.m., when the team traveled through some difficult roads toward the destination.
Motorbikes were very important in mobilizing this clinic
Simpani: This village holds about 150 population of Pharping area. Individuals of different ages came for a medical check up to ensure their well-being. The patients were generally diagnosed with bloated abdomen. This has commonly been seen in Nepal after the earthquakes due to undernutrition from lack of adequate food. Many children were also diagnosed with a wheezing cough, which could be from breathing air filled with dust and debris after the earthquakes. In total, 17 people attended the mobile clinic in Simpani.
Manmohan Hospital Staff checked up on the community young and old in Simpani Village … including our scholar Anju
Utiki: In Utiki Village, the mobile health camp was set up near Mrs. Lalita Lamichhane’s house; She is a CLC staff member. In total, 49 people were treated and the most prominent health issues were stomachache, headache, body pain, and fatigue.
Our scholar Nirupa was one of 49 people that were able to get checked during our visit to Untiki
Day 2:
On the second day, four Rukmini Foundation staff members and two nurses (health assistants) gathered in Manmohan Community Hospital at 7:00 a.m. to see people in Kopu Gaon, Nimtol and Chaimale village.
Pictures from Kopu Gaon
Kopu Gaon: The field workers arrived in Kopu Gaon at 8:00 a.m. One of our Rukmini scholars, Ms. Asmita Tamang, resides in Kopu Gaon. Our medical team setup the health camp in front of her house. Another Rukmini Scholar, Ms. Sarita Lama, joined the medical team for her check-up. The medical team served 27 people. Most people primarily suffered headaches, fibromyalgia, and pyrexia. Many people also had post-earthquake trauma.
Reaching out to the Nimtol community
Nimtol: Around 11:00 a.m., the team of Manmohan Community Hospital and Rukmini Foundation set out toward Nimtol. The health camp was set up in front of a Rukmini Foundation scholar, Ms. Sonika Balami’s house. In total, 17 people were seen by health assistants. Most people in this area had osmotic diarrhea and dysentery. Some people also had feverish response. Individuals were identified with wounds and pus that created infections in their body. The medical camp in Nimtol concluded at 11:45 a.m.
The team ate lunch in Manmohan Community Hospital’s canteen at 12:00 p.m. and then moved toward Chaimale village
Chaimale: At 12:30 p.m. the team reached to Chaimale and began their medical clinic in front of Asmita, one of our scholars’ home. The team assisted 18 people in Chaimale. Medical support in Chaimale concluded around around 2:30 p.m. The team left for Manmohan Community hospital to distribute medicines by 3:30 p.m.
Mobile clinic in Chaimale
Day 3:
On the third day, the team gathered in Manmohan Community Hospital at 7:00 a.m. On this day, the team served in Bhanjyang, Sokhel and Bansbari. The team left for Bhanjyang at 7:30 a.m.
Bhanjyang: At 7:45 a.m. the team set up a medical camp in a tent in Bhanjyang. Ms. Sonu, one of the Rukmini scholars, joined the team and got a check up. A high number 57 people went to the clinic. People shared their problem of restlessness and fatigue. The most commonly diagnosed problems were headache and eating disorders. People from ages five to age 78-years old visited the health camp. The clinic in Bhanjyang concluded at 10:00 a.m.
Sokhel: At 10:30 a.m., the team arrived in Sokhel and set up a clinic outside Rukmini Scholar Ms. Sujata Mahat’s house. Other Rukmini Scholars like Ms. Sadikshya, Ms. Anu, and Ms. Salina attended the camp with their family and neighbors. A total of 42 people were examined at the camp. Children as young as 6-years old to elders that were 85-years old were seen by the doctor. The medical camp was closed at 12:30 p.m.
Bansbari: At 1:00 p.m. the team reached to Bansbari and started a medical camp in front of Ms. Saraswoti KC’s house. The team checked her family which comprised of 6 members. The family members were observed to have gastric problems and skin bruisers. The camp concluded by 2:00 p.m.
The team reached to Ms. Kritika Bista’s house, one of the Rukmini Scholars at 2:15 p.m. Kritika’s grandfather’s checkup was the only checkup possible at the time because no other family member was present in her house. This camp concluded at 2:45 p.m.
Day 4:
This was the final day of the medical camp. To make sure no students are left out, students and their families were called into the bottle house for a medical checkup. The checkup began at 8:00 a.m.
It was a great gathering at the “Sisi Ghar” Bottle House
Bottle house: Rukmini Scholars, their family members, and community members were invited to attend the clinic. Rukmini Scholars, Ms. Srijana Tamang, Ms. Asmita Sunwar, Ms. Dipika Balami, Ms. Smriti Shrestha, Ms. Bimala Bishunke, Ms. Manisha Tamang, Ms. Shweta Tamang, Ms. Pooja Balami, Ms. Reshma Balami, Ms. Smriti Balami, Ms. Junu Tamang, Ms. Alisha, Ms. Jonisha Balami, Ms. Sunita KC and Ms. Sukrira KC attended the medical camp.
Ms. Bandana Aryal joined the medical camp to inform the scholars on the importance of Health and Wellness. Scholars had health problems such as a fever, cough and cold, headache and post-earthquake trauma. In total, 45 people were examined by the doctor. The mobile health clinic concluded at 10:30 a.m.
Overall observations:
As expected, the elderly and children were the most vulnerable, and our medical professionals tried to provide care to ensure their well-being.The most common health problems included coughing and difficulty of breathing, headache, fever, and stomach illnesses. Besides these physical issues, the team also observed how fearful the community was and many were not sleeping well. We realized that we had to do more than provide medical care, and started to think of ways to help the community feel better emotionally. More updates to come on that.
- Rukmini Scholars get inspired by Indira Didi - May 30, 2017
- Welcoming new Scholars for 2017 - May 5, 2017
- Celebrating International Women’s Day in Nepal - March 17, 2017
- Reading Aloud with the Community in Pharping - February 16, 2017
- Dr. Meera Hada Provides Valuable Service While Inspiring Many - February 14, 2017
