Dentistry brought Dr. Alison Han of Redmond and Dr. Baptista Kwok, to the heart of the Himalayas and its people, with the Himalayan Women and Children Foundation which is founded by Mr. A. C. Sherpa. In Salleri, the district headquarter of Solu Khumbu, the doctors set up a mobile dental clinic at Mr. A. C. Sherpa’s house and treated 543 patients of all ages in 2006, 723 patients in 2007 and over 1192 patient in 2008. The next volunteer trek is scheduled in August 24th 2009. We need more help please sign up Himalayan Women and Children’s Foundation www.himalayanfoundation.org and click on the foundation. Your trips will 501c3 tax 100% deductible.
With the majority of the population living below the poverty line, and with only one medical clinic serving a population of 119,901, dental need in Solu Khumbu is great: “Usually the local people have to fly or walk to Kathmandu to procure adequate dental care since the local nurse isn’t capable of doing extractions or other dental treatments,” said Dr. Han. “Most of these people do not even have the monetary support to pay a Kathmandu dentist or airfare, so they are accustomed to living with dental pain and abscesses.”
Prior to the opening of the mobile dental clinic, the Himalayan Women and Children Foundation used radio broadcasting and word-of-mouth to promote the project, and some patients walked for three to five days to seek dental care: “We treated dental abscesses, caries, fractured teeth and periodontal diseases,” said Dr. Han. “Many days we worked past sunset and into the dark.” In addition to treatment, free toothpaste, toothbrushes, antibiotics, ibuprofen and floss were provided to patients.
Dr. Han described the first day of her adventure eloquently: “Our airplane landed on the top of a mountain in the mist of the clouds, on a granite runway guarded by the military and police. The porters helped us carry our nine bags of equipment on a 20-minute trek through a curvy mountain trail from Phaplu to Salleri. The houses are built on a hillside, surrounded by fields of corn and farm animals. The mountain air is fresh, the mountain spring water is cool and the scenery is peaceful. Life is simple here. There are no cars, motorcycles or even a bicycle. Everything is manpowered and the local electricity is hydraulic. The majestic mountains, which are covered by snow and ice, guard the town with all their height and play peek-a-boo with the late afternoon clouds.”
