COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Nursing
WRITTEN BY: Central Queensland University Nursing Group
As nursing students due to conduct a health clinic on 22nd November 2013 in the rural village of Gilung, we were aware of the brief to continue the positive work the CQU team had achieved in Gilung in 2012.
Getting to Gilung was no easy matter, and a convoy of jeeps negotiated the rough terrain for nearly 5 hours to transport our team to Gilung village where we were billeted in pairs with homestay families for 2 nights.
Our team consisted of Lion’s club representatives including Mr. Sonam Sangpo, and Dr. Pradeep Ghimire together with several doctors from Fishtail hospital and a cohort of CQUni nursing students and their lecturers. We arrived to a warm welcome from villagers who generously provided local foods prepared in the newly built monastery kitchen and cultural dances and other entertainment for our enjoyment. In this regard, CQU nursing students had worked extensively in their own communities to fundraise monies donated towards the
extension of the monastery.
Against the backdrop of the magnificent Annapurna Himalayan ranges, the students made their way to the Gilung School armed with their stethoscopes and thermometers, but uncertain of the challenges that lay ahead.
The biggest challenge previously identified by the students in providing care to the villagers was the language barrier, however we soon found that a bit of creativity combined with a sense of humor became the recipe for effective communication resulting in about 380 locals receiving a thorough health assessment and consequently provided with health education, referrals and medications as required.
The gratitude expressed by the villagers left us feeling somewhat overwhelmed, but at the same time privileged to have had the opportunity to practice our nursing skills benefitting all involved.
Immersing ourselves in the Nepalese culture has helped us to appreciate our differences, but more importantly our similarities. This cultural awareness is the foundation to continue building trusting relationships between Australia and Nepal.
As nursing students, we recognize the need for the provision of primary health care particularly in isolated communities such as Gilung village and we look forward to preparing the 2014 contingent of nursing students for their return to Nepal.
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