Blog

Today was the last day of camp in Ale Gaun. 212 patients were registered and 400 consultations completed

In room 5, Dr. Khambir talked with a mother dressed in a red kurta salwar. She held her 10 month old son in her arms as her young daughter climbed up and down the bench. She was worried that her son was not progressing as fast as she would expect; he seemed small and reserved at times. Dr. Khambir noticed the baby’s face structure and mannerisms and called to Dr. Del, the camp’s head doctor, to check what he recognized as a case of Down’s Syndrome. The baby was photographed and the family will be contacted again to arrange a visit to the city of Pokhara where they can see a specialist and learn more about what raising a child with special needs will be like.

Not long after, another patient came in to see Dr. Khambir. This boy was older, still dressed in his blue school uniform from the morning exams, and sat with his arm outstretched on the table while his mother stood with his baby sister on her hip. Just below his wrist was a small, protruding mass of skin and bone likely caused by unhealed damage after he broke his arm some years back. The protrusion does not hurt, but he will be sent down to the valley for x-rays to determine what is the right step to take going forward.

Over in room one and at the eye charts just outside, an older woman was getting her vision tested. After a cooking accident 18 years ago that left her with only one eye, a burnt scalp, and loss of her nose she came to the camp to make sure her remaining eye stays healthy. Another man, over 80 years old, sat outside the exam room after his cataract diagnosis. He started walking yesterday from his village in the mountains to get here today.

In the classroom, students filled the desks for a lesson on oral health from the dentists and dental technicians. They learned about how teeth decay and each got a tooth brushing kit to use daily. After the class, the students lined up at the water spigot to practice and use their new toothbrushes we were able to provide through the donation of Justin Nyland of Taos, New Mexico.

At the end of the long day, we thanked the youth club volunteers who provide us invaluable aid as we translate and keep camp running smoothly. We also want to thank the three women who cook for us daily in the Ale Gaun camp, keeping everything running by keeping us well fed.