New 2015--Open Heart International--Team 1

Before the earthquake, we were busy with our normal activities.  One such important activity was the annual arrival of Sydney Adventist Hospital's Open Heart International medical teams.

Long time readers of this news blog will remember their name

and their dedication to the welfare and healing of those in dire need of help,
many of whom have lived with pain for many years.  It's hard to imagine.

Here is their website:
http://www.ohi.org.au/

Feel free to peruse the site and see all of their work, which is volunteer work, worldwide.

If you click their "Blog" link, you will be able to read stories from many countries.
Just click on the name of the country you want to read about.  Don't forget to read about Nepal!
http://www.ohi.org.au/blog-nepal.html

Their first team, each time they come, is an OB/GYN women's health team.


Their main objective  is to perform much needed uterine prolapse surgery.
An alarming amount of women are living with this debilitating condition here in Nepal.

To read about this condition, from the Women's Reproductive Rights Program, click here:  

http://www.wrrpnepal.org/uterine-prolapse.php?pid=82

You will find some interesting facts and also links on that page.

Carrying heavy loads like this contributes to the problem.

If you are a health professional and have interest in joining one of their teams
as a volunteer, check out their "Want to Become a Volunteer" page:  http://www.ohi.org.au/volunteer.html

This year when they came, the mountains were still visible--always a plus!

(Right now during the monsoon season, the rice is growing, but you can't see the mountains!)

They finally arrive!

"Welcome!  Thanks for coming!"  Dr. Mole', CEO, and Prahlad Bhurtel,
project team coordinator, greet their team project coordinator Coralie Batchelor.

Welcome Program & Orientation:

There were 87 patients who had their lives back after their surgeries this year!
87!  It sounds like a lot, but it barely scratched the surface!
This is why we are happy for the help these medical teams give of volunteering their time and efforts.

These 87 ladies came from right here in Kavre District where we are,
 and also Sindhupalchok, part of which can be seen here, before the earthquake.

(photo credit:  phasenepal.org)

Yes, the name Sinchupalchok may be familiar to you if you have been keeping up
with the Nepal earthquake news.  It is one of the many areas that was devastated.

(photo credit:  ekantipur.com)

Other beautiful areas of Nepal where the 87 ladies came from are:

Gorkha, where the epicenter was, and yes, that's a village on the mountainside.
I'm sure you can guess that there's not a hospital there.

(photo credit:  ibtimes.co.uk)

Bara,

(photo credit:  en.wikipedia.org)

Ramechhap,

 (photo:  worldtravelserver.com)

Bhaktapur (also hit hard),

 (photo:  nytimes.com)

 Rauthat,

(photo credit:  article.wn.com)

 and Saptarhi.

We can only say thank you so many times, but we'll say it once again--

THANK YOU!!!

Before their departure, we had a "Thank You" program along with snacks.

Goodbye Friends and Colleagues!
We already look forward to your next visit!
Have a great year!
Bye for now!

The second team to come was the burn contracture plastic surgery team.

Stay tuned for information about the surgeries they performed.

Blessings to all!

(If you would like to read Relief Web's weekly update for the week of July 20, here it is:)
http://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-earthquake-weekly-situation-update-10-july-2015