A Letter from Dr. Yeshe Lodoe Lama
(Founder of the Citta Hospital)

I was born in Bhuraushe village, Humla District that is the northwestern region of Nepal in one of the most remote and unspoiled areas of the country. It is the poorest area of Nepal and lacks modern facilities for transportation, health, sanitation and education. When I was five years of age my mother died due to lack of nutrition and weakness. So my uncle took me to India and admitted me to the Central School for Tibetans in Shimla, which is free of cost by the support of H.H. the Dalai Lama.

When I was in the 8th class standard there was an education competition all over the world’s Tibetan schools. I got first division in this competition in different fields. So, I got a certificate from H.H. the Dalai Lama's office and some money too. I studied until 10th standard at the Dalai Lama's school and then I left and joined the Sunbeam English school Shimla. Because my aims were to go into the fields of science and there were not a good education for science in the Tibetan school, I completed my intermediate/ 12th standard in science group at the same Indian school with first division with a percentage in all subjects of 94%. I wanted to take the exam of pre-medical test, but if I passed then I didn't have money to pay for medical college fees.

We had a six-month vacation after intermediate exams and at that time I went to Tibet and became a tourist guide. My work was just to receive the tourists from the border and make the trip to Mt Kailash. Finally, I met an American guy who lived in Hong Kong whose name is Leo U. Murray on the Kailash trip. I mentioned to him all my aims, objectives etc and he was interested. Being a tourist guide I earned quite good money and then I decided to take the pre-medical test at the Institute of Medical Science, Hindu University, Banaras. There are only 50 seats and after the exam's result I got top 13th all over India. I got a confirmed seat at the Institute of Medical Science, Varanasi and then I contacted Leo Murray. He became impressed and did the sponsorship of my medical education. After completing my MBBS I got a job at the same University's hospital as a general physician. I worked three years at Sirsundarlal Hospital, Hindu University, Banaras and by the support of Leo and his wife Elaine we bought land for the hospital at Simikot in the Humla District. I thought that if I stayed in Varanasi then I would be able to look after it only by myself. My job was a permanent government job and got a good salary.

There are many doctors in India who can do my job, but in Humla there are not any doctors except me, and these people needed me over there. So I started the construction work of the hospital and it took three years to build due to financial problems. By the support of Nick & Valerie Halpin we completed the hospital in Humla and opened it two years ago. Now our hospital is really very helpful in the Humla region for these poor people. In three years we treated more than 25,000 patients at our tiny hospital at Simikot free of cost and all the local people are very happy about our service. Our hospital is very necessary in Humla region for the welfare of poor people. But due to the lack of funds we have quite a difficulty sometimes to run the hospital continuously.

As you know that we don't have any permanent support yet and all our funds are personal donations. It’s quite difficult to give free treatment to sometimes more than 100 patients a day. At the moment we are solving many of these cases in our tiny hospital in Humla. Our main Aims and Objectives are to illuminate medical difficulties and to give an education to poor and orphaned children. Humla has the highest rate of infant and maternal mortality in Nepal. Our Citta Hospital offers institutional delivery, pre- and post-natal health care and education to pregnant women in the area. The hospital is providing educational seminars for mothers on nutrition and hygiene for the improvement of family welfare. The hospital developed a mobile team that is holding outreach seminars in villages in the area. This is very helpful to increase confidence in the center and developing a relationship with the surrounding village communities.

Our Citta hospital consists of a clinical unit, a dormitory for patients and pharmacy/consultation rooms etc. Illness such as TB, dysentery, arthritis, cataracts, vitamin deficiencies, cholera, influenza, serious fever, dangerous infections, ulcers, bronchitis, UTI, ENT problems, liver cirrhosis, goiter and skin diseases are common in the area. We hope to see it grow to capacity in providing these poor communities of Humla with a long-term stable and efficient health care system that meets their needs. At the moment we have only 10 staff (1 doctor, 2 paramedics, 2 nurses and 5 workers) at our hospital in Humla and every month we need US$2000 for the wages of the staff and to buy the medicines, plane charges and to repair the equipment.

Therefore sometimes it’s quite difficult for the finances due to no permanent supporter. In order to realize this goal we need your support. We highly value your interest in our hospital project and will make sure that your donation is fully utilized for the benefit of these poor communities. We wish to extend many thanks to everyone who has generously supported our tiny project in Simikot Humla and encourage all others who would like to contribute for this purpose.

Thanking you,

Dr. Yeshe Lodoe Lama