At 7 am, five of us from the Himalayan Quests Foundation office left the bustling streets of Kathmandu, full of excitement and anticipation. Our destination was Sirkot, a remote village in Syangja district, perched at 1,616 meters, where Mt Dhaulagiri towers majestically in the distance. The journey, we knew, would take 8-9 hours or more, as Nepali time often has its own pace.
The morning air in the Kathmandu Valley was heavy with pollutants carried by eastern winds, making the drive dusty and hazy. Our microbus bounced along narrow, winding roads, pausing for tea, lunch, and even a tire change due to an unexpected puncture. Despite these challenges, spirits stayed high.
By the time we reached Pokhara, the sun had started to dip, and the road ahead became even more daunting. Here, we picked up our doctors, Dr Anup Subedi and Dr Ishwor Manandhar, bringing our team to seven, along with the essential eye-checking equipment. Night was falling, and the final leg required swapping the microbus for a rugged jeep to navigate the steep, bumpy roads with sheer drops on the side. Finally, at 9:30 pm, we reached the village Mr Kumar Rana, our local friend and facilitator, greeted us with a warm smile and a steaming dal-bhat. Fourteen hours of travel had brought us to our destination!
The following morning, the energy shifted from exhaustion to purpose. Villagers began arriving, some walking 45 minutes to an hour, eager for eye care. Since our last visit in 2019, Sirkot had changed, there was a new health post but fewer young people remained in the village, having moved to cities or abroad for opportunities. While minor ailments and childbirth care were accessible locally, eye and dental health often went untreated due to the distance and cost to larger hospitals; around 2 hours to Waling or around 3 hours to Pokhara by vehicle.
Despite initial doubts, the camp saw a steady stream of patients. Later, there was a big queue at the registration place. Volunteers managed registration and flow, doctors conducted thorough examinations and health professionals distributed medicines and reading glasses. We added urine and blood sugar tests to screen for diabetes, a growing health concern in Nepal, before any eye treatments or diagnoses.
During the camp, we made a spontaneous decision to add a few extra activities for the villagers. Our friend Rae, a breath and movement expert, guided the elders through simple hand and joint exercises to relieve strain from their physically demanding daily work and help prevent arthritis. We also ran a short, interactive dental hygiene session for both children and adults, making learning fun while sharing practical tips for healthier teeth and gums.
Our dedicated team of doctors treated each patient with patience and care.
A total of 432 people benefited from the camp:
- 189 men
- 243 women
- 48 children under 15
- 173 pairs of reading glasses were distributed.
- 306 urine and blood sugar tests were performed to screen for diabetes.
- 12 individuals requiring cataract surgery will receive free operations in Waling, Syangja, with all travel, food and medical expenses covered.
As the afternoon sun dipped, we wrapped up the camp and prepared for the journey back to Kathmandu the next day, hearts full with the satisfaction of service.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this camp possible: the donors, supporters, volunteers, the Himalayan Eye Hospital team, local leaders, staff nurses and the Sirkot community. Special thanks to Kalikakot Health Post for allowing us to use their premises, and to the village youth club for ensuring everything ran smoothly. Together, we made a real impact, bringing health and care to the people of Sirkot.
