2024 marks 16 years of Ausnep Australia - Helping Where It Matters
Jumla was amazing - a hugely ambitious project & decidedly filled with many challenges (to say the least. We flew to Nepalgunj to have the next leg to Jumla cancelled due to bad weather. We spent the next two days on weather watch & praying for clear skies. Instead we got snow, iced runways, rain, lightning, low clouds, more snow - with so many patients waiting for us in Jumla, 7of the crew bravely agreed to go by (treacherous) road, 15 hrs with 5 being car sick, more rain, rock falls, snow & finally Jumla. ....and for the remaining 13 of us, after the storm & snow in jumla ....finally, the skies cleared & we were Jumlas bound. Our 4 day camp reduced to 2 1/2 days.
Our fantastic ground staff (they cook, pitch our tents, take care of everything behind the scenes - camp is not possible without them) had left Kathmandu on the bus, 3 days earlier, loaded with tents, food & equipment. We arrived in Jumla with huge smiles & delicious food waiting. The 4WD crew had arrived early in the morning - after only 2 hours sleep, after a quick breakfast they were straight into treating patients.
The camp focus included ultrasound guided pain interventions, physio, dental treatments l, women's health, continuous medical education program, & a large emphasis on education to eradicate Volkmann's Ischemic Contracture.
It takes a village to help a village - 29 incredible passionate kind people, together
ACHIEVED ....
387 pain & physio patients with 437 treatments
70 orthopaedic consultations
2 Medical Education sessions
539 dental treatments ( 400 toothbrushes/toothpaste/oral education provided)
200 reusable sanitary pads provided
200 breast examination education, instruction & leaflets provided
sporting equipment provided to local school
2 physio clinics (Phil Walshe & Sanju Kr Tandulkar in Kathmandu)
1 physio teaching session (kathmandu)
Special thanks has to go the Nep Aus Association - Mendo Tamang, GB Tamang & Jems Neupane - these camps would be impossible to achieve without their knowledge, skills, huge hearts & their desire to 'help where it matters!'
WHAT'S NEXT
August will see the 4th Hand Surgery/Hand Therapy Symposium & the 2nd collaboration with Dr Shilu at National Trauma Centre, Kathmandu. Drs David Graham, Brahman Sivakumar & Trevor Gervais will lead the program, with Dr Shilu Shrestra.
David first joined Ausnep in 2009 & made a vow to return. True to his word; 2018 saw him begin a determined desire to establish a link between the two countries. Both David & Brahman are fuelled by dedication, & a passion for research, better outcomes & leading outreach programs in various countries. Both are members of ARCH (Australian Research Collaboration for Hands) with a recent article being selected as Editor's Choice for Journal of Hand Surgery. Collectively they have (& are) involved in over 151 research publications.
It is impossible to express the depth of gratitude Ausnep has for these men who give their time so willingly - to teach, to educate, to truly - help where it matters!
Ausnep Australia has recently returned from its latest medical camp - 13 - 18 August 2023
Hand Surgery & Hand Therapy Camp, including CME & Hand Therapy Workshop, in collaboration with Dr Shilu, Chief Orthopaedic Consultant, National Trauma Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Ausnep had the pleasure of meeting Dr Shilu, 12months ago. She is the only female orthopaedic surgeon in the country. She is an engaging, warm, compassionate, dedicated woman. Upon meeting her, you feel the depth of her passion for her work, her staff and for those she treats. It is easy to see how her department flourishes under her guise.
A 6 day alliance, followed with Australian Hand Surgeons Drs David Graham, & Brahman Sivakumar, PHO, Dr Sarah Brereton, Hand Therapists Clancy Kemety, & Paul Foster, RN’s Helen ‘Maggie’ McGuire, Vin Mantala, Student Nurse, Hayley McGuire, & Graham Hextell, Orthopaedic Outreach, along with Dr Ramesh Shrestha, Sanju Kr Tendulkar, and the Orthopaedic Residents, Anaesthetists, Nurses & X-ray staff at the National Trauma Hospital.
We could not have been more warmly welcomed & received, resulting in a hugely successful & rewarding week. To witness first hand, the impact of a program of likeminded people, was a privilege & an honour. I am eternally grateful for the support, trust & kindness extended to all for being part of Ausnep Australia/National Trauma Centre Program.
Ausnep Australia looks forward to our future endeavours, where we can continue to see medicine as a global responsibility, where we join in a mutual desire to share knowledge, link health & help where it matters
Hand Surgery & Hand Therapy Camp, including CME & Hand Therapy Workshop, in collaboration with Dr Shilu, Chief Orthopaedic Consultant, National Trauma Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Ausnep had the pleasure of meeting Dr Shilu, 12months ago. She is the only female orthopaedic surgeon in the country. She is an engaging, warm, compassionate, dedicated woman. Upon meeting her, you feel the depth of her passion for her work, her staff and for those she treats. It is easy to see how her department flourishes under her guise.
A 6 day alliance, followed with Australian Hand Surgeons Drs David Graham, & Brahman Sivakumar, PHO, Dr Sarah Brereton, Hand Therapists Clancy Kemety, & Paul Foster, RN’s Helen ‘Maggie’ McGuire, Vin Mantala, Student Nurse, Hayley McGuire, & Graham Hextell, Orthopaedic Outreach, along with Dr Ramesh Shrestha, Sanju Kr Tendulkar, and the Orthopaedic Residents, Anaesthetists, Nurses & X-ray staff at the National Trauma Hospital.
We could not have been more warmly welcomed & received, resulting in a hugely successful & rewarding week. To witness first hand, the impact of a program of likeminded people, was a privilege & an honour. I am eternally grateful for the support, trust & kindness extended to all for being part of Ausnep Australia/National Trauma Centre Program.
Ausnep Australia looks forward to our future endeavours, where we can continue to see medicine as a global responsibility, where we join in a mutual desire to share knowledge, link health & help where it matters
Aus-nep Australia - linking health, is a registered Australian, tax deductible charity.
established in january 2008, as a not for profit organisation, achieving its charitable status & tax deductibility on 13 April 2015.
Ausnep's vision is to provide a health link between two countries; providing free surgeries, pain management interventions, dental procedures, & public health to those who have no means to access health care, in both remote & urban regions of nepal. Ausnep also provides ongoing education to health professionals .
Whislt one of the worlds poorest country nepal is rich in culture, tradition & heritage - a beautiful country, located in the southern part of asia. Land locked between China, Tibet & India it is one of the poorest countries in the world, & one of the least developed.
As south asia's 6th poorest country, (World Bank Report), life expectancy has increased over the last decade to around 65 years of age. However, approximately more than a quarter of the population still live below the poverty line $1.90 p/d (although there has been improvement) many still little or no access to health care, Nepal has only 0.67 doctors & nurses per 1000 people, less than the WHO recommendation of 2.3 /1000
With all these issues in mind, Ausnep believes, any contribution made, is of value to this small country; where eight of the worlds highest mountains reach for the sky.
It is easy to become totally enamored with the people: their depth of soul! for in this country, those who have so little, offer so much about the real values of life....
Nepal - mountains, monks, and prayer flags, a beautiful country, truly amazing and highly addictive.....
Please consider donating - to help us continue 'helping where it matters'
Ausnep Australia is proudly a registered tax deductible charity with 97% of all monies raised directly helping the people of Nepal!
DONATE HERE
tax receipts emailed
MEET THE BOARD
Please consider donating - to help us continue 'helping where it matters'
.
Ausnep Australia is proudly a registered tax deductible charity with 97% of all monies raised, directly helping the people of Nepal! your tax receipt will be emailed.