Surgical Interventions:

Health Care:

Nepal suffers from extremely high infant and maternal mortality rates. Even though it is the 14th poorest society on the planet, infant and maternal mortality rates are still very high in relative terms. On average, a mother has a one in twenty-six chance of not surviving labour. In remote areas, it can be one in sixteen. Because of the lack of education, expectant mothers and their families do not realise how dangerous it can be to give birth in a cow shed - or how vital it can be to seek medical help at the first sign of complications.

In Nepal, health care is prohibitively expensive so people sit on minor conditions until they become chronic and even then think many times about whether they, their family or friends can afford or even borrow to afford the most basic medical care. In remote areas, a patient may have to be carried on back for up to five days to reach even the most basic medical facility. It is a very long cry fron being helicoptered to a state of the art Western hospital.

The Mountain Trust paid for this young woman to have a brain tumour removed. It had obscured her eyesight in one eye and was impairing her thinking. The Trust paid for transport and consumables and the staff at Manipal Hospital operated for free.

£200 and hours later, she recovered. The Trust paid for her to be trained in tailoring and bought her a sewing machine. Today she is self-sufficient.

This poor woman suffered major burns to her face and upper torso when her cooker exploded and showered her with boiling oil.

She had no means to afford medical attention until the staff at Manipal Hospital drew her case to our attention and we swiftly agreed to cover the minimal costs of drugs & dressings. The medical staff gave their time for free.(This is one of the least distressing images.)

Prem Paryar was badly injured in a road accident and surgeons needed to amputate his lower leg to save him.

Unfortunately he had no means to cover basic costs so the Trust agreed to meet these and the medical staff contributed their time.

Another driver lost part of his leg in a road accident.and required surgery to smputste hid lower left leg.

Once again, the Trust covered the basic costs whilst the medical staff at Manipal gave their time for free. Despite his set back, his life was saved and he continues to be Dad to two rumbustuous sons.

Mr Subhedi was severely beaten on the lower vertebrae with a Lathi (a bamboo pole) by security forces whilst demonstrating peacefully for the restoration of democracy in 2006.

As a result he could no longer sit - only stand or lie down and so could no longer earn his living as a driver.

The Trust has paid for MRI scans, consulted the leading neurosurgeon in Kathmandu and taken a second opinion from a Consultant Radiologist at Addenbrooke's, Cambridge.

The Trust has paid for physiotherapy and further medical treatment, whilst sponsoring his two children through school. This way the family can be kept afloat until the sons qualify and can support the family themselves.

One woman in her thirties literally dragged herself by her arms from a remote village to Manipal Hospital for treatment because her six inch long spinal tumour prevented her from using her legs - despite not having any means to pay for treatment. Manipal contacted the Mountain Trust and very soon they had the £200 or so necessary to cover the cost of the consumables (bandages, drugs etc) whilst the staff at Manipal Hospital gave their time. The following day in post-op, she could move the first of her legs. She has since made a full recovery.

It was her case that prompted us to think of taking medical care to the patients.

Click the picture (left) for details on our Mobile Health Clinic.

We have since agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gandaki Medical College to make regular use of the vehicle on health camps etc.

The Mountain Trust is working with senior staff at Manipal Teaching Hospital and Addenbrooke's Teaching Hospital, and Addenbrooke's Abroad (which has approved us to help staff volunteer in Nepal) to build bridges between Cambridge and Pokhara.

Click the picture (left) for more details.

Not every story has a perfect ending. We did our best to help one young man with a brain tumour so advanced that he could not see. We paid for MRI scans and got the best advice available in the country. We paid for surgery and whilst this was successful, when the patient could see again after so long a time, he was so shocked that he suffered an ebolysm and sadly died. Despite this, we were able to bring some comfort to him in his remaining months, providing him with clothes, accommodation, company and a football. Each time he heard the voice of one of our colleagues in Nepal, his face would light up. Regrettably, it was too late for him but we did at least bring him some comfort and happiness in the twilight of his life.

Because of the time differences between Nepal and the UK, the Trustees have established an emergency fund of 500 pounds to cover the costs of emergency surgery which is to be used at the discretion of the Nepal Mountain Trustees should assistance be required at short notice and without time to gain advance approval for operating from the MT UK.