COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Nursing
WRITTEN BY: Central Queensland University
It's strange that when you’re volunteering in a foreign environment that the important things from home become less important and the less important things are the ones you crave and miss the most! Hot water, electricity and clean clothes were all a concern when arriving however now we seem to just take it all in our stride and utilize it when we can. I am pretty desperate for a sausage roll and sauce though, go figure!!
The volunteers have been very busy whilst in our first week in Pokhara. We have been spoilt in regards to experiencing cultural and clinical practices of the Nepali people.
We have been volunteering out of Fishtail Hospital, a private hospital in Pokhara. On first arrival we were in shock as to how different practices and systems are compared to those at home. However, after spending more time there and interacting with both the staff and patients it is evident that it is the possible care available for the patient given the facilities and equipment which would be the same expectation and outcome at home.
Also this week the international volunteers were able to visit an organization called Children of Nepal. The work they do is amazing, they provide services to ensure that the youth of the community are guided and provided for with projects such as job creation for the women of the community, and after school activities for the children. We presented educational workshops to the children and women with topics such as hygiene, dental care, drugs and alcohol and family planning. It was great to know that we could make a small but influential difference to the community through this education.
A highlight for me was our visit to Pokhara University to interact with fellow nursing students, who are also international volunteers. It was eye-opening to see the amount of work and clinical hours these students complete! Whilst at the university we presented three students with scholarships funded from donations raised from home. The gratitude from these girls and their peers was overwhelming. It is a huge commitment and financial strain for the students and also the families to send their children to tertiary education and it really reinforced how lucky we are in Australia to have so many opportunities available to us.
Without a doubt the best part of the trip so far has been our two day health camp to Gilung. The volunteers travelled over 6 hours each way in two jeeps that were literally packed to the rafters with our own supplies and also gifts and donations for the local schools! It was a very harrowing experience driving up the mountain sides, we got bogged three times and only lost one bag, which we were lucky enough to spot falling off the roof (and then we also nearly lost one person trying to recover the bag off the side of the mountain!!!) but we survived the trip and it was more than worth it. The welcome we received from the villagers will be something I will never forget! Flowers, singing, dancing, a musical procession, made the whole experience very surreal!
The camp itself was a huge success, we had over 700 patients attend, some of them WALKING over 5 hours just to be seen! We shadowed the doctors in general medicine, gynecology, ear nose and throat, optometety, and cardiac. We took observations, assisted with equipment and provided any and all services that we could!
We were treated to cultural shows of dance and were billeted with villagers in their homes to experience a traditional way of nepali village life! It was wonderful to see how these people live and that are content and happy with the simple life!
Namaste
Danielle
No comments:
Post a Comment