COUNTRY: Nepal - Pokhara
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Community Healthcare, Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Adam Blau
It seems that our preconceptions of places are based on a thinly constructed veneer pandered by tourism agencies. Understandably a country will promote its most positive aspects. Internationally, these bright spots dominate the way tourists feel about visiting certain locations. But this behaviour can have adverse effects. Consequently, we tend to overlook the state of a nations true indicators of success: economy, healthcare, education and politics.
Since opening up its borders to foreign visitors in 1955, tourists have flocked to Nepal, marveling at this rare, seemingly untouched place. From an ancient culture shrouded in mysticism, to unmatched treks and spiritual mountain sabbaticals; the copious quantities of high quality ganga and hashish, to eternally jovial and simple folk, Nepal's image is irresistibly enchanting, a box that must be ticked.
What our time volunteering here has given us is a chance to observe this country at a deeper level, beyond Nepal's stunning facade. A chance to get to know the people, the industry, the day to day happenings and how it compares to images projected by the tourism sector, which don’t always stack up.
Seeing drawbacks in essential sectors like education (me and Alex Holland),charity work (Gabi Doyle) and health care (Clare Bampton, Katie O'Neill and Sophie Byron) can be confronting, but serves as an important reminder: despite burgeoning tourism there is much work to do in Nepal.
Alex and I have met some adorable children who love games and sport. However we’ve also witnessed a rigid education system based on rote learning. To them, imagination is a non-entity.
Gabi's placement allows her to be privy to a charity called Children Nepal, who’s work in endless. It's a system that has to separate the poor from the poorer. They deal with a variety of charitable aspects, from sponsoring children to running a crafts workshop (more on Children Nepal in the next blog. Hope you can wait!).
Finally, our three nurses have been spending their time treating patients at Manipal Hospital – an intimidating structure and by far the largest building in the city. During Clare, Sophie and Katie's month, they have experienced third world healthcare firsthand - an experience that has elicited an enormous range of conflicting emotions: frustration (due to the language barrier), shock (from the difference in medical procedure and standards) and gratitude (from the friendliness of local nurses).
The girls usually return to camp exhausted after a six-hour shift, equipped with gross stories and a collection of pictures with the giggling staff. It’s been a giant learning curve but all of them have emerged better nurses with an average of twenty new Nepalese Facebook friends.
Sophie, the group’s resident baby at a smidgen under 19, has spent her placement in the obstetrics and gynecology unit. Her role is to observe and assist the interns with births and patient monitoring. Consequently, she generally has the most grotesque stories, often coming home covered in bodily fluids. My aversion to the birth aside,
Sophie's placement has built her midwifery confidence enormously. Despite a radical difference in routine, sterility and doctor-nurse relationships, Sophie has managed to adapt to what initially seemed a hostile environment. She even recently helped deliver twins! What an effort, Soph!
Highlights for the Sydneysider midwifery student include being part of many births, explaining she rides a kangaroo into work by an inquiring doctor and being drenched by amniotic fluid - her supervisor shrugged it off and even told her to wear the same clothes the next day!
Katie has spent the last month cooing and ahhing at babies while working in the neonatal intensive care unit and in general pediatrics. Primary tasks include nappy changing, feeding, burping, hiccough halting and general attentiveness to small person needs. She also manages to squeeze in plenty of sneaky baby cuddles, and there's always a camera at the
ready.
Close relationships formed with nurses has also been a huge upside to her time on the ward. Basically, Katie says the greater trust established with resident nurses, the greater responsibilities she receives. Bonds created over tea and spicy cuisine are for life and Katie benefited this week by being invited to dinner at one of her nurse friend's homes.
Despite the enjoyable aspects, Katie has seen horrible flaws in Nepal's healthcare system. For instance, if a family can't afford care, the babies are taken home with fatal consequences. As well, with hospitals so understaffed with doctors, nurses are forced to assume some of their duties.
Clare, the crew's designated motherly-figure, was placed in Manipal's intensive care unit where she has spent the last month dealing with some very intense situations. Clare also struggled with the fact that the hospital has no medical painkillers – leather restraints are used instead. Yet in spite of this, the patients continue to accept treatment. She has been so inspired by their courage and strength and has grown so much as a person and as a nurse because of these experiences.
Although Clare has at times felt out of her depth she has pursued lovely friendships with some of the other nurses – she’s even been invited to one of their weddings!
On a final note, I hope this reflects accurately on the nurses placement and gives you a small sense of their time at Manipal. Volunteering at a hospital in a foreign place has taught them all a lot – compassion, patience and understanding especially.
The nurses, as well as us teachers and charity workers are required to overcome different issues and barriers on a daily basis – in a foreign country these obstacles at times feel insurmountable.
But the gratitude these people share and the relationships we’ve formed have made every effort worthwhile. Katie, Sophie and Clare will without doubt be better nurses and midwives and better people for their month at Manipal.
Until next time, Namaste!
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