-
-
The solidarity is well organised. They are confident about the future, while we are still quite hesitant about the idea of returning to Nepal, because an earthquake can never be foreseen and the mountains are often the result of former earthquakes. But then, the spell is operating on me again, so let`s go!
april 2017
Arrived at the airport of Kathmandu, there are, what a surprise, new machines for the electronic procurement of the visa, a new airport, people who are still as dynamic and cheerful as they used to be, the same hot-tempered discussions with the taxi drivers about the price and the tip… The real life in fact! Wandering around the city, I return to my favourite quarters and as I revisit some places and buildings that I like, everything seems to be okay finally! The stupa of Bodnath located in the centre of the city is a place of big importance to the Buddhists of Nepal. It`s wonderful, brand new, entirely renovated with his golden hat and his eyes of transcendental blue that give you chills. The pilgrims are still constantly in motion, their faith has not been affected and I don`t think it will ever be. This is a true lesson about life and strength, bravo!
As we set off for the mountains, our first destination is the brand new airport of Kathmandu for national flights. The airport of Lukla is still as dangerous as it used to be, the pilots are still as dedicated to their vocation, still as happy to show us the Everest. The magic is working again. The approach and the contact with the local population and the guides haven`t changed and you nearly get the impression that the earthquake was nothing more than a temporary mood or a sneeze of the mountain. Following our trekking road, nothing reminds us of the whims nor of the mountain, nor of the earth, it`s impressing, it`s troubling, it`s confusing! Although everyone here has lost relatives or friends, their smile remains as bright as it always was. They tell us that would be very happy if they could keep things that we don`t want to take back home, anything, clothes, shoes, accessories, medicaments…
The story of our partner in Nepal
At the age of 9 years, a boy of Dhulikhel loses his mother who dies during childbirth, the next medical aid station is 35 km away. At this precise moment, Ram decides to become a doctor. He finishes his studies in Nepal with very good grades and with the financial support of the government and his family he goes to university in Vienna. He becomes a surgeon, marries Andrea and becomes the father of a little daughter. During the 15 years that he spends in Austria, he never forgets what is so important to him: giving access to the Nepalese people to modern medical aid that is affordable for everyone. He persuades the farmers of his native village to give him some territory and he collects funds from his friends in Austria to construct a hospital. In 1994, Ram returns with his family to Nepal and the construction of the first building begins. The hospital is put into service in 1996. Soon the heads of different mountain regions, for which the access to medical aid is really difficult, demand help and in 1997, the first medical aid station opens in Baluwa. In 1998, the medical institution takes office to guaranty a formation of high standard to its medical staff. The hospital is really successful and to be able to ensure the care to a growing number of patients, it is continually expanded. At the same time, new medical aid stations are put into service in the most inaccessible regions. In 2006, the hospital becomes a university hospital in collaboration with the University of Kathmandu. The little hospital in the mountains with 130 beds becomes the biggest medical centre in Nepal, with 360 beds, 19 medical aid stations, and 1250 employees. The incomes, the costs of maintenance and of operation, as well as some renovations are mostly paid by the hospital, but for the construction of medical aid stations and the purchase of medical equipment, the funds are not sufficient yet. The managers always respect the purpose of offering medical treatment to every patient, therefore about 20% of the patients pay for their treatment.
The story of NepaliMed Luxembourg
Since 1994, tourists from Luxembourg follow the development and the work of the hospital in Dhulikhel. The 6th December 2000, after visiting the place, Claus Lampertz pronounces the decisive words: “Hei musse mer eppes machen.” And so, NepaliMed Luxembourg is born. The association starts its activities in June 2000 with volunteers and the office is installed in the private house of a member. They soon start concentrating on the replacement and the purchase of medical equipment and the dispatch of containers with hospital beds and medical material. Two boarding schools for the students of the medical institution are financed. In 2012, the association is approved by the government. In 2013, the medical aid station of Katike-Deurali is put into place. NepaliMed, in collaboration with the SNJ, sends regularly medical students as volunteers to Dhulikhel. The projects are financed by donations, the sale of Nepalese craft, the organisation of dinners and of raising awareness days, of information nights and the participation of the MAEE. Since the inauguration in 2001, 1 280 491, 93€ have been invested.
The narrative of my journey to Nepal
I am afraid to see all those historic places again, fallen apart like a house of cards with angry players who let fall it all apart. As an occidental person, you are always considered as rich, fortunate, healthy and happy… I cannot say that it is not true… And I will have to support the interrogative looks…
October 2016, I am obliged to take 10 consecutive vacation days before the 31st December! In December, there are of course the celebrations for the end of the year with all the excitement that accompanies them, which always makes me want to take some distance, in every sense of the word. And again I am taken by the irresistible desire to travel to Nepal! I have to admit that, in some way, I have been hypnotised by this country. I went there in December 2013 for trekking in the region of Khumbu, better known as the region of the Everest, with all the dreams, utopias, fears and horrors that this can inspire.
Looking desperately on the internet for a trekking agency that sets out at this time of the year, I almost lose hope, nothing, because too late, too cold, not enough candidates… Finally I coincidentally find the website of an Australian trekking agency that offers and ensures the departure to the region of the 8000 wonders. Let`s go, after a lot of procedures, a journey that is always really long with too many transition points and periods, I can finally realize my dream. I arrive in Kathmandu a few days before I will join the group. Yay, I will get the opportunity to stroll around this crowded city, where you breathe in deeply the dust, where our clothes are constantly as powdered as Madame de Pompadour in the 18th century. I think about the images of desolation that I saw on the television after the earthquake and I am afraid to be confronted to the reality of these people that must have been difficult before, but that I imagine now as even more dramatic.
The donations remitted to NepaliMed Luxembourg can be deducted from the taxable income (article 112 L.I.R.), insofar as the sum of the remitted donations during one year are nor inferior to 120€, nor superior to 1.000.000€, without exceeding 20% of the income.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends of Nepal,
You enable us to help the people of Nepal through our local partner and therefore the doctors Ram Shresta and Rajendra Koju would like to thank you warmly as well. Your donations have enabled us to start financing the construction of the Gaurishankar Hospital in Charikot, a hospital that was destructed during an earthquake in 2015. The project “Purchase of medical equipment” cost 91 427, 94 €, the dispatch of a container to Calcutta is priced at 2 895, 00 €.
We are planning in dispatching several containers with hospital beds, medical equipment and we continue financing the construction of the hospital in Charikot. These are projects of an important scope and we need all of you for their achievement. Thank you for your support.
Charlotte Godzwieski, who worked for 2 years in Dhulikhel, is going to Nepal to take care of the project “Kitchen”. This project has been retarded because of the earthquake and we hope to be able soon to start with the installation.
We are very happy to have some impressions from Nepal and we will let you pursue on the following pages a story by Clarisse Houll. Of course Clarisse and Charlotte are paying for the journey themselves.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for any question or visit our website.
Namaste and kind greetings,
(s) Marie Anne Carier
