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November 2005

One big party for Dhulikhel Hospital

During our visit we went from one surprise to the next. Within one year two wards had been added to the hospital. Paediatrics and the clinical Problem Oriented Education have a new accommodation. Gradually the hospital is expanding its positive influence on the Nepalese medical care as a teaching hospital. The fact that the hospital as N.G.O. is going to collaborate  with the Government is unprecedented. This will bring about an enormous improvement in the quality of the government facilities.

During our annual visit the continuing-education course of the Village Health Workers is organised without fail. This so-called T.B.A.-project is one of our spearheads and runs smoothly. At present 425 !!! “lay women” are spreading the basic medical care in their villages. They are the key figures in the primary medical care. The information that these women provide makes more and more Nepalese people go to the outreach stations motivating the men to support them. It was encouraging to see that a large number of men were present taking part in the counselling.

Our coordinator of the project, Ammy Hoekstra, was extremely satisfied with the result. Because 425 “lay women” also means that more than 400 villages are reached to spread the health message.

The urology conference was a great success. The opening ceremony was performed by the crown princess of Nepal. An extremely charming personality who was welcomed by Fons Ypma, your chairman and doctor Ram Shresta, manager of the hospital. After this the Dutch Nepali Association Uro-Surgeons, DUNEPAUS,  was founded in the presence of a great number of Nepalese surgeons and urologists. This association aims at raising the level of the Nepalese urology basically and scientifically.

The absolute climax in November was the opening of the medical outreach post of Dapcha. The money for this health centre was raised by Lions Club “Tilburg Regte Heide”. The way the people welcomed us was hardly to be believed. We, but especially the Tilburg “Lions” were received in state. Malas, flower wreaths, katas, and silk scarves were hung around our necks as expressions of gratitude and respect. When we arrived at the outreach post we participated in an impressive ceremony. This ceremony, which combined Buddhist and Hindu elements, was attended by some thousand Nepalese people.

They also witnessed how Ammy van Gooswilligen, member of our committee, and Pieter van Maren, past-president of Lions Club “Tilburg Regte Heide”, opened the building by cutting the well-known ribbon.

That same day Dr. Ram operated upon 13 patients and 370 !! patients were treated at the policlinic surgery.
In the evening, when we were back at Dhulikel Lodge Resort, we realised that we had taken part in a fairytale. A fairytale come true.
Thirty-five thousand people in and around Dapcha now have medical care at “walking distance”. For many people this walking distance will mean long hours of travelling. This will not prevent them from coming, especially since they know that everyone will be treated, even if they are too poor to pay.

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Nepalimed verleent niet alleen steun door het ter plaatse brengen van medische instrumenten, maar ook door middel van het adviseren en opleiden van lokaal Nepalees personeel door Nederlandse artsen.