Dhunsharka: what a beautiful valley!

I just returned from the village of Dhunsharka, 30-km south of Banepa. Only the first few kilometers are paved, the rest is a greasy, muddy, wet clay and rock road. One of our employee's accompanied Madeline, a MPH student from Ontario, Canada, and me. Originally his family came from this village. When Scheer was first established the only way to traverse this trek was by foot. Now we can travel the road in 90-minutes. It's s stunning location and a potential spot where our we hope our mobile clinic will visit once per week. Madeline has been working diligently to complete a community needs assessment in preparation for rolling out a new service. We're thankful for International Partners, in this case an organization from the Netherlands and the Global Health Initiative at Centura Health (Colorado) in sponsoring this project.

I was struck by a lost opportunity for Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital (SMAH). Years ago SMAH was periodically visiting this village. The community, already trusting their medical care to our hospital, was anxious to see a clinic established in their region. Land was set aside. Equipment was donated. Standing on the site of what should have been SMAH branch clinic stands a government health post. Scantily supplied yet in good condition this, along with a health post from a nearby hospital is the source of primary care for this region. Yet, the small focus group really wants SMAH to return and establish services in this town. I wasn't here years ago when these decision were made. I hope we can find a way to partner with this health post and community to bring them the care that these wonderful people are seeking.

I am writing this message after a very long weekend on call -- my first weekend duty. From septic patients (patients with dangerously low blood pressure due to severe infections) to dying organophosphate poisonings to severe COPD (lung disease), it was an adventuresome weekend. Thankfully God blessed and with the back-up help of my wonderful colleagues, I survived. I have an even greater respect for my wonderful co-internists who have worked in austere conditions for years: they are awesome!