Free Medical Camp, Maratika, Nepal
6th to 9th March 2017
While rich in history, the remote villages surrounding Maratika do not have an abundance of resources. Medical care is sparsely available, with just one village Amchi serving the entire local region. This local doctor, Dr. Sonam Sherpa, works tirelessly along with his assistants to treat patients and increase awareness surrounding hygiene and sanitation in the local community. He reports that a large portion of the medicine and treatments offered in their clinic have to be given at no charge since many patients live with virtually nothing in the region.
Beneficiaries of the project.
Total 227 patients came to the free medical camp over the two days. Many traveled from distant villages to attend the camp, including a number of patients who walked for a day and a half to receive medical care. Most were given one month of Tibetan herbal medicine as well as any indicated external therapies; particularly acupuncture, moxibustion, horme, kunye massage, cupping, bloodletting and yukcho stick therapy.
Project description
As part of the activities of our 5th International Congress on Sowa Rigpa held in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sorig Aid, together with Sorig Khang International Nepal (SKIN) organized two free medical camps to Maratika and Upper Mustang; both very sacred and historical places, putting our compassion and all our ‘talking’ during the congress into ‘action’!!
Both camps are well attended and successfully conducted and completed with the help from amchis, volunteers and participants. In these medical camps, patients are given free medical consultations, therapies, as well as sorig herbal medicine.
At the sacred place of Maratika in Eastern Nepal, led by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Dr. Machik, Dr. Sonam Sherpa and allopathic physician Dr. Jens Tonnemann, our team of Sowa Rigpa practitioners and students treated over 200 patients over the two-day camp and laid groundwork for future service and collaboration in this remarkable sacred place.