CQU Nursing students set up remote village health camps

COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Nursing
WRITTEN BY: Central Queensland University Nursing Group

Today was an amazing, eventful and inspirational day for both group A and B as we travelled 5 hours uphill squished together in four jeeps travelling a distance of 45kms to a little Nepali village named Gilung for the weekend. Travelling this road was like experiencing an extreme sport as it was treacherous. Luckily everybody in the groups travelled very lightly this weekend I don't think we could have possibly fitted anything more into these jeeps!

On arrival to Gilung, we were greeting, along with the Nepal Lions Club, by the locals with beautiful handcrafted flower garlands and song. The villages were so welcoming everybody came from near and far, even a man who was unable to use his legs had crawled over miles of rock, dirt and rubble to greet us. We then trekked a small uphill distance to the village Monestary kitchen which we donated money so it could be sufficiently rebuilt. The village elder ladies greeted us again with beautiful garlands and a rice mixture that was placed on our foreheads as a holy blessing into their community. We were then welcomed and Professor Kerry Reid-Searl and Penny Heidke were asked to open the kitchen for the very first time during this ceremony. We were then fed a fantastic snack made from the Monestary which was fantastic!

Following this ceremony, we were finally allocated to our host families, this was so exciting. For the next two nights we were going to sleep, eat and live the village life of a Nepali. The host family houses ranged greatly from small traditional clay houses to much larger clay houses, many were filled with cows, goats and chickens. This experience was already off to a fantastic start and it was only going to get better! The first night we were invited to a welcome song and dance festival where the community celebrated our arrival in traditional dance and we sang a few Aussie songs without any hassle. This was fabulous fun!

Saturday we walked 10 minutes to the high school where the remote village health camp was held. Nepali doctors also visited to donate their time and expertise to the villagers for 8 hours. Us students were able to perform vital signs on the villagers before they saw the doctors to help with the docotr's patient assessments. We were also granted the opportunity to observe some clinics such as surgical, gynaecological, medical, optometry and many more that we're available. This health camp allowed us all to really appreciate the Australian health care system much more as this health camp in Gilung was the only medical attention these lovely villagers will get for another year. The children were given knitted gifts in forms of beanies and scarves that were made from the grandmothers of our Australian nursing students which was a fantastic donation! CQU also donated a number of exercise books for the students along with other medical and school supplies required to enhance their program's in Gilung.

The following day we were far welled by our families and given more excitingly garlands and blessings with red powder and then we hopped in the jeeps for another 5hour bumpy ride back to Pokhara.

The overall experience in Gilung was exceptional! The general outlook of this program was that we felt there was immense responsibility and pressure that was placed on us nursing students due to the desperate need of basic medical resources however the demonstration of community, togetherness, family and strength was inspirational as it is clear that determination overpowers illness in these remote villagers and hard work is the only option to survive. This sense of love and motivation was moving and something all of the students would like to add to their lives and take back and practice in Australia. This weekend has really enforced how lucky we are to be living in such a fantastic and free country.

CQU students learn alongside Nepali nurses

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

800 villages attend CQU health checks in rural Nepal

COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Nursing
WRITTEN BY: Central Queensland University

On Friday the 23rd of November, a group of 12 volunteer members from CQ University travelled with Sonam and Mr Galypo via 4WD for a very bumpy six hours to the remote village of Gilung. The welcome by the village was amazing. We were showered with marigold garlands, blessed with a tikka, and we were piped up to the primary school by the village band. Upon reaching the top of the village, the volunteers were in awe of the amazing views of the Annapurna Ranges. We were greeted by the elder of the village, together with the primary students and teachers. Following a welcoming ceremony by the Lions Club members, school principal and village elder, we were treated to Nepalese bread and chicken. The volunteer group then presented the school with educational supplies, sporting and craft goods.

After the presentation, the volunteers then viewed the refurbishments made to the school building and classroom furniture. We were impressed by the improvements made to the classroom utilizing money donated by CQU and we appreciated the acknowledgement of the CQU branding on the school desks which will be an ever-lasting reminder of the donations from the most esteemed CQU students and staff.

We were introduced to our host families and all of the volunteers settled into their traditional Nepali accommodation. We were most impressed by the hospitality shown to all of us and that evening we enjoyed a cultural show and got to sample the traditional Nepali millet wine.

After a delicious breakfast of boiled eggs and roti, we trekked through the fields of millet to the health camp, which was held at the secondary higher school. The day was a great success with just under 800 villagers came to the camp for health checks, with some walking up to 5 hours to get there. Health checks included gynaecology, ENT, ECG, Ultrasound, general medicine and eye clinic.

There was also a pharmacy that supplied the necessary medication free of charge. Volunteering nursing students were divided between each area providing invaluable assistance to doctors and performing health assessment for patients prior to seeing the doctors. 27 villagers were diagnosed with cataracts out of 250 eye checks. One of these elderly patients (84 years of age) arrived having been carried in a basket by one of her family members, over rough hilly terrain to get there. We appreciated the assistance of the Lions members as translators when we communicated with the local villagers. At the completion of the health camp, CQU students gifted donations to the principal of the secondary school.

Following the health camp, the youth and women’s groups treated the volunteers to another evening of cultural dance. Dances were also performed by CQU and Lions Club members, special mention must go to the Most Respected President of the Lions Club for his nimbleness on the dancefloor.

The next morning began with a very early start in which our host families bid us farewell with beautiful garlands and flowers and accompanied us to the bus. As we travelled down the mountain to return to Pokhara we reflected on our experiences, the people we met and new friends we made.

CQU students overcome language barrier to deliver baby in Nepal

On their recent health placement in Nepal, CQU Nursing and Midwifery students and supervising staff embraced the challenge of helping deliver babies with only limited resources and limited language to communicate. Supervisor Amanda Hackett said one of the deliveries was quite traumatic with local medical staff having to resuscitate the new born baby.

"After several minutes they eventually got the baby to breathe much to our relief," Amanda said.

The group was also amazed at the rapport that can be developed with locals under trying circumstances when you don't even speak the same language.

The group of midwives also had the opportunity to speak with local women in the village about birthing and antenatal/postnatal traditions and care. After hearing the women's stories (with the aid of a translator) one of the students even got up and did a demonstration of birthing and positions for birth that we use in Australia. How’s that for comparing notes! The undergraduate students also had the chance to attend to blood pressures for the doctors before patients were treated at a health camp.

Prior to the placement, the CQU students did an amazing job fundraising for resources which they bought on arrival in country. The group then gave donations of text books, pencils, erasers, a cricket set, soccer ball, basket ball, a world globe and some educational posters. Some also gave out toothbrushes and did some oral health education with the younger ones. And the locals weren’t the only ones who benefitted.

"it was fun because everyone joined in and the little ones were soooo cute!!!,” Amanda said.

Despite the long days in the hospitals and clinics, the girls also managed to make the most of their time in Pokhara getting massages, shopping, relaxing and eating out. A few of the girls also went out for dinner, drinks and dancing!

CQU Nepal Facebook Page

One of our motivated UniBreak Groups, Central Queensland University Nursing and Midwifery, have created a Facebook page documenting their experiences in Nepal. The students are regularly uploading photos, stories and notes on their experience working with the developing community. Below are some of their stories from abroad. Go here to check out their page , and check out the Antipodeans page here while your at it!
We are a group of 14 Students, 7 of which are registered nurses studying midwifery and 7 are undergraduate nurses with 2 lecturers accompanying us. We are embarking on a 24 day health promotion trip to Nepal on Tuesday the 9th November 2010. The trip will be coordinated via an Antipodeans Abroad Program (www.antipodens.com.au) and forms part the Central Queensland University (CQU) program for both undergraduate nurses and post graduate midwifery students, in 2010.

Working in the community will give us insight to the health of the street children, leprosy rehabilitation, womens health, health of those living in urban slums, sufferers of HIV and AIDS, drug addiction, childrens mental health issues and Tibetan refugees.

The kinds of things we are hoping to take with us include
-baby clothes
-birthing kits
-hand sanitiser
-soap
-blankets
-toothbrushes & toothpaste
-dolls for demonstration
-pelvis for demonstration
-foetal heart dopplers ($900 ea)
-medical gloves

The trip is going to be tough, rewarding and an amazing experience for all of us.

Amanda Hackett Post:
" Hi all, Wednesday - another very busy day. Mannipal hospital in the morning most went for a lecture on tuberucolosis and a couple went to theatre to witness ceasearean Nepali style. Then off to the TB hopsital in the community which was closed due to the fact it was a public holiday. Public holiday was called by the government yesterday to celebrate a muslim event. Didn't see any muslim celebrations but we did become involved in a Hindu festival where they were singing and dancing and re enacting a ceremony with people dressed up to represent their Gods. They also prayed and threw flowers in the river. We were once agin blessed with big red stripes on our foreheads which sprinkled on to our noses so we all looked like Rudolph.
We were then lucky enough to be given the afternoon off so we could .... you guessed it - do more shopping!!!!

Lisa F and Anna stayed at the hopsital to support a labouring woman.
Shopping was fun and we were all treated later to music from Emily's new drum - oh joy very musical indeed. A few picked material and ordered pants and tunic Indian style. Sooo cheap less that $30 for materail and sewing. Let you know what they are like when we get them in 5 days. May even be able to pose for photos and post on this site. Something to look forward to.

At 5pm we went to a couple of orphanages to deliver some more goods and money. Kids are sooo cute and love seeing us and playing with the baby doll we have as a mascot.
Anna and Lisa F returned where they did get to witness a birth Nepali style which is not quite the same as an Australian one. Bit of debriefing and then off to Moondance for tea where a few jugs of Sangria was the order of the day. All in all a very long and busy day which is now over so off to bed and up in time for a 9am start and off to health camps and an aged care home. Until next time love to all our family and friends."