Date: 2025-03-08
The Tamang Doctor’s Society, Nepal (TDS), Lions Club of Kathmandu Saya and Nepal Democratic Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NDFN) jointly organized a 4-day health camp in various places of Kavre district precisely Roshi-1, 2 and 3 for flood affected individuals at the beginning of one of the main festivals of the Nepalese; Dashain. While different parts of the country were in turmoil due to heavy flood and landslides affecting thousands of households with hundreds of casualties, these organizations taking the initiative to provide aid for the affected ones medically and financially as well came out to be a valuable collaboration to help the community.
The team of 10 individuals for this health camp included Doctors; Dr. Nirajan Tamang, President of Tamang Doctor’s Society, Nepal ; Dr. Muna Gurung, Dr. Buddha Moktan, Dr. Samjhana Yonjan; Lab Technician, Ms. Sushmita Yonjan; Medical students; Ms. Sima Dolma Ghalan, Ms. Nisha Lama, Ms. Smriti Lama; Mr. Mohan Tamang and Mr. Pasang Lama, representatives from NDFN.
Day1: The team set off from Jadibuti at the crisp of 9 am, as the sun ascended in the sky which followed a 2-3 hours journey which was marked by a sudden, heavy downpour. The road was ravaged recently by floods and landslides already therefore making it a challenging ride. Nevertheless, the team pressed on, carefully navigating the challenging landscape until they arrived at a small village in Kavre district- the furthest point reachable by 4 wheelers.
From that point, their trek commenced. Spirits were high, though the path ahead proved to be far more arduous than anticipated. The flood and landslides had obliterated any likeness of a trail, thus the team had to forge their own route across the rugged hills. For 8 hours, they pressed onward, the fading light succumbing to complete darkness, rendering the terrain utterly invisible. Lost and disoriented, the team stumbled onward through the rocky landscapes, unsure of their location or direction. Just as despair began to creep in, a compassionate villager noticed their plight and offered them shelter for the night, even allowing them to use the kitchen to prepare a simple noodle dinner. Despite the day’s trials, the team’s smiles remained undimmed.
Day 2: At dawn, after a warm cup of tea and heartfelt thanks to the generous villager, the team pledged to return the favor in the future, offering some financial assistance as a token of their gratitude. Following the directions provided by the host, they set off once more. 3 hours later, they arrived at another village, where a kind elderly couple welcomed them with open arms, offering both rest and sustenance. As a gesture of respect and appreciation, the team reciprocated with financial aid and provided the couple with a thorough health check-checkup. After a further 2-hour trek, they finally reached Shree Laxmi Narayan Secondary School, the site of their health camp. There, they settled in, enjoyed a well-deserved dinner and rested in preparation for the work ahead.
Day 3: This day began with an emergency at the health post adjacent to the school. A villager had suffered a severe axe wound to his leg and was bleeding profusely. The team immediately sprang into action, cleaning and suturing the wound, and advising him to get a tetanus toxoid vaccine as soon as possible. Villagers began arriving at the camp in droves , each receiving a free health check-up and necessary medications. Several families particularly hard-hit by the recent floods were promised financial assistance upon the camp’s conclusion.
Day 4: The day’s work began with the arrival of a seven-year old boy, brought by his parents with a displaced bone in his leg. The team provided initial fracture management aid and advised the parents to seek immediate hospital care, as an X-ray was essential for proper treatment. Throughout the day, a steady stream of villagers continued to arrive for check-ups including oral screening as well. At midday, another emergency arose; a ten-year old boy had suffered a deep cut to his abdomen while swimming in the river. Likely from some sharp object. Bleeding heavily, he was quickly attended to by the team, who sutured the wound, managed his pain and recommended a tetanus toxoid and immediate seek of aid to a hospital. Meanwhile Ms. Smriti Lama administered a tetanus toxoid to the villager with the axe wound from the previous day, the vaccine having finally arrived from Kathmandu.
Day 5: Early the next morning, after a successful and impactful camp, the team began their journey to Kathmandu. Following a different route suggested by the villagers, they trekked for approximately four hours before reaching Kathmandu around 2 p.m.
The camp proved beneficial to approximately 600 villagers, ranging in age from three to ninety-two years old.
What people had to say about this camp: The villagers expressed their gratitude for the much- needed healthcare services, with many commenting on the team’s compassion and the accessibility of medications. The president of the Tamang Doctor’s Society, Dr. Nirajan Tamang, noted the collaborative effort that made the camp possible, expressed satisfaction with the camp’s outreach and impact and also outlined plans for expanding healthcare access in similar communities. “Spending 4 days at the camp was an eye opening experience where I witnessed the incredible strength and resilience of those affected by floods and landslides. It was inspiring to see how a community comes together in the time of crisis. It was a journey of compassion in the face of adversity.” said Ms. Sima Dolma Ghalan.
Editor: Sima Dolma Ghalan