As residents of Gabriola Island, we were all aware of earlier discussions about
emergency evacuation off the island. If there is a need to go to the hospital
in Nanaimo during the night, just how easy is that going to be? Will the ferry's
crew be available to commandeer a late-night sailing, or would a special emergency
craft be available for the task? Either way, we can feel pretty well assured
that eventually, within a few hours, we will receive the medical attention needed.Now, please imagine that we 5000-plus Gabriolans are, instead, living in a remote valley of Humla, tucked away at 10,000 ft in the farthest northwest corner of Nepal. Towered over by the Himalaya, the mightiest mountains on earth, our little valley is a good day's hike from the nearest form of transportation - a tiny grass airstrip carved out of the next valley's walls. There are no roads, no ferries, and no possibility of a helicopter (far too expensive for most villagers). If one of us needs medical attention, we will be wrapped in a blanket, laid out on a stretcher and jostled down the path by two or more porters for an uncomfortable eight-hour ride. Then, if the weather is clear, a plane can fly in and take us to Nepalgunj, a town 200 km away with similar facilities to Nanaimo. The key here is: "if the weather is clear". For nearly four months of the year, the local valleys are often shrouded in cloud and snow - no planes can land. There is no emergency evacuation possible!
There is hope though, for the people who live in these valleys. A local man, Dr Yeshe Lodoe Lama, with support from a few dedicated friends and a considerable amount of his own money, completed a small hospital three years ago. It was built in Simikot, the ‘capitol’ of Humla and sits at the end of the airstrip. The Citta Hospital caters to the immediate medical needs of the locals, as well as encouraging the basics of good sanitation and home health care. Ironically, one of the biggest threats to life in Humla is birth. Usually occurring at home and in appallingly unclean conditions, childbirth always involves a high risk. Before the hospital was built, it was not uncommon for both mother and child to die if a complication arose.
Dr Yeshe has been well educated in India, and could command a prestigious practice in the comfort of the well-developed Kathmandu valley. Most of Nepal’s doctors are unwilling to work in the remoter areas of the country. Access to trained health care is a rarity for most of the poputation, the majority living in scattered mountainous villages. In a country where the average annual income is $240 US, one in twelve Nepalese children will die before the age of five. Unfortunately, it has not been a government priority to improve the situation, with many remote hospital and school projects having been created by international organizations. Complicated by ongoing political strife, many of these have been closed down.Dr Yeshe has managed to fund the Humla hospital project with money raised through the generosity of friends and individuals such as yourself. It is 'allowed' to operate because it is a grassroots operation. Run by locals for the locals. The Himalayan Festival on Gabriola Island is the only organized fund raising event for the Citta hospital. In its third year, the Festival has provided funds to complete the hospital, donated to its running costs, and last year, purchased and installed a solar energy system.
You can help, simply by coming out and supporting the Himalayan Festival. Attend an event: explore the fascinating Himalayan culture, buy some raffle tickets, or make a bid in the silent auction. If you would like to be a more committed supporter, then please consider the automatic withdrawal scheme, whereby a fixed donation is withdrawn from your account each month.
We are appealing to you, our local community, to help a less fortunate community help themselves. Thank you.