Sandesh and Bhagteshwar take on the ABC Challenge - Pre Trek

On 12 March 2016, HExN committee member Sandesh Acharya and his friend Bhagteshwar reached Annapurna Base Camp (4130m), raising a fantastic amount of money for the charity in the process.

Not only did they take on the challenge of carrying the backpack (about 13-15 kg) themselves without a porter, but they also completed the trek in nine days; a feat normally achieved in twelve days with a porter!

Sandesh documented his progress every day of the trek and we are delighted that he has shared his experiences with us in this series of inspiring blog posts.

And so the story begins...

Following four months of training at various peaks in the UK, it was finally time to embark on the trek to Annapurna Base Camp.

Prior to leaving the UK, I did a final check of my kit and decided to weigh what I would be carrying for nine days of trekking in the Himalayas. The total weight of 16.2 kg (18.2 kg including two litres of water) was a few kilos more than what I was hoping to take (and what I had trained with), but I decided that everything was absolutely necessary. Being a medic, I probably did take more first aid and medications than I needed!

After arriving in Kathmandu with my friend Bhagteshwar Singh at 6pm, we met our guide Kumar, and left for Pokhara the following morning at 5am. Needless to say, our body clocks were a bit frazzled. After a seven hour bus ride, we arrived in Pokhara and opted for an early night… but only after a final pre trek meal of momo.

Child Protection: Recognition and Response Training for Clinicians

A course provided by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Advanced Life Support Group & the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Child Abuse and Neglect has been identified as a major issue globally affecting large numbers of children both in upper and lower income countries.

Under Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and mistreatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.

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From 2nd - 5th May 2016, a total of 34 doctors and nurses who work with children and families attended a series of one day workshops at Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu provided by a visiting faculty from the UK.

The interactive training included small group teaching was extremely well attended with a variety of local doctors and nurses taking part.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG) & the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children aim to provide follow-up workshops later this year led by local trainers with support from ALSG UK.

Many thanks to the UK Faculty og Dr Kate Denning, Sheila Moore, Dr Jean Price, Dr Deepak Upadhyay, Dr Neela Shabde, and Dr Chris Hobbs, and for the local support provided by Professor Dr Binod Man Shrestha, Head of Department and Professor Dr Chandeshwar Mahaseth, Medical Director at Kanti Children’s Hospital.

Doctors thank Aintree colleagues for support in £100,000 fundraising campaign as Nepal marks a year on from the earthquake

Leading doctors have presented Aintree University Hospital with a thank you plaque to mark support for our fundraising appeal to provide earthquake disaster and recovery support in Nepal.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan country on 25 April 2015, killing 9,000 people and injuring more than 23,000.

Dr Shambhu Acharya, HExN committee member, said:

“Many clinicians at Aintree University Hospital supported us with donations, fundraising and offers of help. Initially we supplied immediate disaster relief, such as survival kits and shelters. More funds were used to rebuild schools and supply hospitals, and assist local Nepalese charities. A year on from the earthquake, we are now helping develop the Nepalese medical services over a longer term, including supporting more rehabilitation services, which are very limited.”

Surgeons from Aintree University Hospital took part in fundraising challenges which saw them go barefoot, and doctors, nurses and allied health professionals made donations at a special presentation event.

Steve Warburton, Chief Executive of Aintree University Hospital, who also took part in the fundraising challenge, said:

“Staff at Aintree really rallied round, and we are honoured to receive this recognition from Health Exchange Nepal. It really brings things home to you, when you hear of how donations of even a few pounds made such a difference to people in Nepal.”

A year on from the earthquakes, an estimated three million people (600,000 households) in Nepal are still without permanent shelter, so your donations to the earthquake appeal are more important than ever before. To donate, please visit http://www.hexn.org/earthquake-appeal/. 

Symposium on Updates in Respiratory Medicine and Workshop on Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Kathmandu University Medical School (KUMS), Dhulikhel Hospital, Health Exchange Nepal (HExN) and Society of Internal Medicine of Nepal (SIMON) jointly organised a symposium on updates in respiratory medicine and a workshop on pulmonary rehabilitation on the 8th and 9th April, at Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal. This programme was endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

Five of the speakers travelled from the UK to Dhulikhel. Professor Derek Bell, the President of the Royal College of Physicians was one of the speakers from the UK. Five other speakers attended from various hospitals/ health institutes in Nepal.

The symposium on updates in Respiratory Medicine was held on the first day with over 100 participants from across Nepal. Participants included senior and eminent Nepalease physicians. There was active participation by delegates with lively discussions and Q/A sessions.

The workshop on Pulmonary Rehabilitation on the second day was also fully subscribed with almost 50 participants. There were active discussions on practical aspects of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Overall feedback was excellent. Delegates were keen on more, hands on experience in the future.

I am very pleased to lead the organisation of this programme which was approved for 6 CPD points. The organisers are very keen to organise the update sessions/workshop on an annual basis and I hope that the collaboration with the KUMS, SIMON, RCPE and HExN will continue in the years to come.

There were discussions on future cooperation between the SIMON executives and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh over dinner hosted by the HExN. The Royal College agreed to look at ways of supporting postgraduate education in Nepal and the possibilities of hosting MRCP examinations in Nepal. The College would also look at supporting conferences of Society of Internal Medicine in Nepal in the future.

HExN wishes to thanks Sudhir Lohani, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust in the UK, for providing this overview.

Supporting the Newborn Life Support (NLS) Course at Dhulikhel Hospital

On the 27th and 28th March 2016, an overseas team of six from the UK and Quatar, coordinated by Dr Anil Tuladhar, Consultant Paediatrician at University Hospital of North Tees, conducted a two day Newborn Life Support (NLS) course at Dhulikhel Hospital in the Kathmandu Valley.

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The course was fully subscribed very quickly, with the maximum of 25 participants attending both days. 

Feedback for the format and conduct of the course was excellent with many participants stating that this was the most "hands on" simulation-based neonatal life support course they had attended.

Health Exchange Nepal (UK) is delighted to have sponsored the course and provided the necessary equipment required, including manikins. The course was run in collaboration with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (UK) and ably supported by the Dhulikhel Hospital team.

The team plans to run this course every year and reach out to other areas in Nepal to attend.

Barbara Harrison, Retired Ward Matron Neonatal Unit from Northern Deanery in UK, also conducted three days of neonatal advanced care training to the Dhulikhel nurses prior to the NLS course.

Hoorah for Harry in the Himalayas

It takes a lot for TV crews and photographer to return to a past disaster once it has slipped from the front pages.

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       IMAGE BY: European Pressphoto Agency

So with the anniversary of the devastating earthquakes, which killed thousands of people and changed many more lives forever with long-term injuries approaching, it was perfect timing for the UK’s Prince Harry to undertake an awareness raising trip to the country. His visit was to both mark 200 years of formal diplomatic relations between the UK and Nepal, and also to highlight the progress in recovering from the earthquakes.

Like many of our HExN teams, Prince Harry spent time in both Kathmandu and remote villages, reminding millions of people internationally about how widespread the impact was.

Nepali hospitality shines through

The Kensington Palace media team have an international reputation, and the photo-opportunities were superb, from Prince Harry sleeping in local houses, to being named honorary head of a village, daubed in red paint as part of celebrations for Holi and playing volleyball, a sport very popular in village areas where clear, level ground is often at a premium.

The hospitality, generosity and remarkable fortitude of Nepal’s people shone through in every photo, and clearly impacted on the prince, who had served alongside Gurkhas when he was deployed in Afghanistan.

Prince Harry’s message, covered by UK and international media, was clear:

“I pay my respects to those who perished and hope to do what I can to shine a spotlight on the resilience of the Nepali people."

Tourism is key to Nepal's recovery

However, Prince Harry’s trip was not purely about reflecting the impact of the earthquakes, and the country’s work to recover.

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Patan Durbar Square after the earthquakes

He sent out a strong message about the value and role of tourism, visiting artisans and apprentices working to restore the royal palace at Patan Durbar Square, which was heavily damaged by the quake. The prince held talks with Nepal's first female president, Bidya Devi Bhandari, when both recovery and tourism were on the agenda.

Talking to tourists during one of his walkabouts, Prince Harry said to one family:

“Well done, it's so, so important to encourage people to come back. Why wouldn't you come back here? It's beautiful."

The Prince’s words have a resonance to all of us who are privileged to have visited Nepal. Like Prince Harry, the country has found a place in our hearts. And we are not alone.

The UK has been one of the largest bilateral donors to Nepal, with a total commitment of £70 million in earthquake relief, according to figures released by the Department for International Development.

The warmth which the British hold for Nepal was seen by the amazing response to HExN’s own #NoSocksRocks appeal, which raised £100,000 against an initial target of just £10,000.

The prince’s visit painted a picture of a country recovering from a natural disaster of almost unimaginable scale. With trekking once again beginning to pick up in Nepal and work on the rebuilding of the historic buildings continuing, the role which visitors can play in assisting the nation to progress was perfectly illustrated by this very special Royal visit.

Aberystwyth Nepalese Community Holds Charity Dinner

In support of leprosy and the recent earthquake relief, on behalf of Health Exchange Nepal (UK), Aberystwyth Nepalese Community organised a fundraising charity dinner in the evening of 27th June 2015 at Aberystwyth Rugby Club. The event was well attended by families of doctors and nurses from Bronglais General Hospital, local GP Dr Heather Cox and her family, staff from Little Angel’s Nursery and Wales Assembly Government, and Aberystwyth Asian Community.

Retired community paediatrician Dr Junu Upadhyaya who personally witnessed the devastating first earthquake in Nepal welcomed and introduced about the event. Church Surgery GP Dr Heather Cox shared her 3 years experience of looking after leprosy patients in eastern part of the Nepal, the 4 years experience of working in community clinic in western Nepal. She also told her interesting story of how she met her husband Mr Jono Cox (hydropower engineer) in Nepal, and got married in the UK. Their daughter Hannah was born in Nepal. Dr Sandesh Acharya, GP from Liverpool told that although leprosy has been eradicated, there are still 1 in 20,000 effected people in Nepal who are living their life in hatred. These people need love and care. He mentioned about a small charity hospital called “SEWA KENDRA” in Kathmandu, run by few doctors to help patients with Leprosy, mainly for treatment and rehabilitation. He pledged for helping this hospital..

The evening was very emotional by listening to a story of former Penglais Pupil Mr Jan Zeber. Jan was travelling to Nepal for an adventurous trekking to Annapurna base camp while earthquake hit Nepal on 25th of April. He realised only after a week that his parents Dr Jack Zeber (Consultant Anaesthetist at Bronglais General Hospital)) and Dr Alexandra Zeber (GP in Padarn Surgery) were extremely worried about him, as he was out of contact while earthquake hit the country.

An active member and fund raiser of Health Exchange Nepal (UK) Dr Shambhu Acharya (consultant anaesthetist from Liverpool) gave an emotional talk on recent devastating earthquake and how people are helping for fund raising following the charity’s pledge. Around 20 Nepalese Doctors Volunteers went to Nepal for immediate medical help and distribution of relief materials. With the collected fund the charity has already constructed 100 temporary shelters for earthquake survivors in villages, and planning to construct more shelters, toilets, schools and health posts in villages (which will last for few years). The charity is looking forward to its ambitious project of establishing rehabilitation centre for survivors (who lost their limbs) at Dhulikhel Hospital, in collaboration with Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences. It will involve construction of artificial limbs, training and teaching staff and rehabilitation of patients. Dr Acharya appreciated the help provided by local people.

Display of handicrafts and promotional video show about Nepal helped for learning  more about the country. The event was entertained by a small cultural programme. Aberystwyth University lecture Dr Dev Acharya sang a peace song about the Buddha and love to Nepal. Little Angel’s staff Mrs Pramita Khoju and guest from Liverpool Mrs Gyanu Ghimire performed beautiful Nepali dances in traditional nepali costumes. Penglais A level pupil Pramesh Khoju conducted raffle prizes and gave a vote of thanks to all attendants and non attendants who contributed for the event, and Aberystwyth Rugby Club.

The event raised around £1500.