In April 2016 our first annual health camp in Simikot Hospital took place. It is the only hospital in the district, with one doctor, four assistants and insufficient medicines. We came to provide some relief with a team of volunteer doctors from Nepal and from abroad, and local people who assist in management and translation.

The team this year included (left to right) – Dr.Gal Goldstein (Israel), Rajni Shrestha (INSPIRATIONS Nepal), Dr.Mangal Rawal (Jumla Hospital, Nepal), Mangali Thakali, Namkyen Lama (Tilganga Hospital, Kathmandu), Dr.Ada Gansach (INSPIRATIONS), and Dr.Vardina Shumla (Israel).

The delegation was supported by the Israeli Embassy, Kathmandu

We brought with us around 250 kg of medicines to be distributed free of charge.

Without  any access by road, everything had to be flown in.

Simikot is the district capital, with its single, insufficiently manned and barely equipped hospital (the cluster of buildings on  the right). We settled here for the coming days.

Dr.Smriti Mahat, the medical director of the hospital, was a wonderful host. She received us collegiately and helped manage our work during our time at the hospital. At the same time she kept her regular routine of seeing patients .

Dr.Vardina Shumla, general practitioner and pain specialist

In Nyimathang and Bargaun  Dr. Shumla continued caring for people on the way to Ralling Gompa

Dr.Gal Goldstein, a paediatrician and child-olcologist took care of the children as well as their concerned mothers

This 6 months old baby girl was brought de-hydrated with severe pneumonia. Without emergency facilities, Dr.Goldstein prepared a make-shift emergency arrangements for intravenous treatment.

We had to transfer the baby to another building where oxygen inhalation equipment was available. But without electricity we had to use the solar system which provided no longer than 20 seconds of air supply before power was cut. So trained the mother to press the button twice every time to re-operate the machine.  We were desperately concerned for the baby’s survival.

Then the next day, overjoyed and sleepless, the mother came with the baby, rejuvenated, sleeping peacefully and feeding. To be on the safe side, Dr.Goldstein gave her another dose of fluids.

• We all wanted to hold and hug the miracle-baby who was completely oblivious to our excitement.

Namkyen Lama, originally from Nyimathang nearby and the first in ophthalmology from Humla, returned with us to his home town to help checking for cataract , identify vision problems and distribute medicines.

Dr.Mangal Rawal, consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon at KAHS, Jumla District Hospital, at a moment’s rest with his wife, Dr.Smrity Mahat.

We are grateful to the people of Gumba Dhara of Raya VDC, our partners, who came specially to assist in managing the health camp and spared no effort to make the project a success.

There is still a whole district there waiting.

And we shall be back, every year – to provide some relief and a little comfort: YOU can join the efforts, YOU can help us bring things closer; YOU can support us – join us, volunteer and donate. Thank you.