Nepal Medical Camp

Our Medical Camps in Nepal are Moving Mountains events and paid by fundraising. Participants can make use of fundraising sites like BT MyDonate which automatically add gift aid to donations from UK tax payers, and any gift aid raised through BT MyDonate can be put towards your fundraising target. So for example, if you raised £1,000 and it was all donated through BT MyDonate by UK tax payers then a further £250 is added automatically, helping you reach your target.

All funds will go towards the following;

INCLUDES

• All the medication / medical equipment required for the camp and it’s transportation to the location of the Medical Camp
• Qualified local doctors, dentists, pharmacists and medical staff salaries and their food, accommodation and any travel required
• Medical Camp planning, local promotion and staffing
• Participants return jeep transfers from Kathmandu to Saleri or Paphlu
• Accommodation in the mountains, in local lodges and home-stays in Bumburi and Bupsa (twin rooms / mini-dorms with beds and mattresses)
• Three meals per day with hot drinks provided by our cooks
• Local guides (English speaking, professional, experienced and trained in first aid)
• Staff food, insurance, accommodation and equipment

EXCLUDES

• International flights or travel to Kathmandu
• Visa, vaccinations / personal medication required and personal travel insurance
• Accommodation in Kathmandu on the 1st, 2nd and 18th night of the itinerary
• Airport transfers and meals in Kathmandu (we can help provide these and you can pay directly in Nepal)
• Porters to carry your kit (a porter will carry up to 25 Kg so you can share the cost of carrying your kit between 1 or 2 other people)
• Personal costs like laundry, hot showers, beer/soft drinks in the mountains, snacks, etc (~£100)
• Any tourist / extra activities in Kathmandu

One of the easier ways to raise the funds is by setting up a BT MyDonate fundraising page and linking it to our Medical Camps events page.

Full details of how to do this can be found at ‘Support Moving Mountains’; gift aid collected through your BT MyDonate page from UK tax payers can go towards your fundraising target, so for example, if you receive donations of £1,000 on MyDonate from UK tax payers that automatically adds an extra £250 to your fundraising total. 

All of our International Development Projects have been identified, researched, assessed, priced and approved by our charity, Moving Mountains. All people going on this trip receive a clear breakdown of the projected outcomes and expenditure of the money which has been raised. Some of it is spent on the camp itself – medical supplies, Nepalese medical staff, etc – and some of it goes on the long term sustainable projects that Moving Mountains Nepal are involved with. Another part of the cost goes towards your personal trip costs on the ground in Nepal.

Our local provider is Adventure Alternative Nepal. Adventure Alternative Nepal complies with UK tourism standards and will make all the necessary arrangements in advance to advertise the Medical Camp. They will also work with Moving Mountains Nepal with regards organisation of group stays, medical supplies and local Doctors and Dentists, meetings with local committees, communications between the UK office and Nepal, etc.

This scheme is part of a wider ongoing initiative to improve the quality of life of people in the lower Khumbu region of rural Nepal. The village regeneration project is the implementation of a long-term development plan focussed around two rural villages. Overall enhancement of quality of life and sustainability of the community has so far been achieved via investment in infrastructure, education and healthcare as well as training and reliable employment.

The following is the 2016 and 2017 Medical Camp reports, there is also feedback in both from the students who took part, some of whom were only in Nepal for the Camp and others who did their Elective in Kathmandu before joining it. At the very least you’ll get a better understanding of the typical medical issues that are faced in rural Nepal;

Nepal Medical Camp 2016 – Final Report
Nepal Medical Camp 2017 – Final Report

Aside from the more obvious physical and material elements, one of the main achievements of the project has been the rejuvenation of a community that was in serious decline and plagued by emigration to the lowlands and Maoist related violence. Through improvements in sanitation, schooling, employment and future prospects the communities have again begun to be an attractive proposition for life-long habitation.

The sustained close links of both Moving Mountains and Adventure Alternative to the area has provided locals with a reliable and ethical source of employment and training. Throughout the course of many years, Adventure Alternative has been running Mount Everest expeditions and Everest base camp treks. These have brought in charitable donations and also a reliable revenue stream. Many of the local Sherpa people have been employed to staff these trips as guides, porters and logistical organisers. In so-doing they have gained invaluable skills and experience.

A number of local Sherpas have now summitted Mt Everest with Adventure Alternative. This is an achievement that is held in huge esteem by the Sherpa community, helping to further raise the profile of their home villages as successful and thriving communities.

So far the physical achievements of the Moving Mountains projects include;

• Design, building, installation and commissioning of 6kw hydro-electric plant in Bumburi
• Electrical connection of all Bumburi homes to the hydro-electric plant
• Installation of hydro-mechanical milling machinery at the hydro plant in Bumburi
• Complete re-development of Bupsa school
• Complete re-development of Bumburi school
• Building of improved toilet facilities and water tap at Bumburi school
• Renovation of Bupsa Buddhist monastery
• Renovation of Bumburi monastery
• Provision of improved cooking stoves in all homes in Bumburi
• Provision of clean running water to all homes in Bumburi
• Construction and management of our Bumburi Health Clinic

Other initiatives include

• Annual medical camps in Bupsa and Bumburi providing free medical consultation and medication.
• Funding of teachers salaries in each of the two village schools
• Sponsorship of local children to go on to higher education in Kathmandu
• Training and employment of local villagers to run and maintain the hydro-plant
• Establishing community cooperative programmes for wealth generation

Inclusive and relevant

Our medical camps are open to anybody, and there is a clear understanding that any community event like this can only exist if there is a need that is identified by the local people in the villages.

We have an equal opportunities policy and strict policies regarding child protection, and we are founding members of Fair Trade Volunteering movement.

We ensure that the emphasis on personal development and international development is balanced, and that this medical camp is always part of a long term aim which has been properly evidenced.

Training and preparation

Our support includes preparation from dedicated staff in the UK, which ensures that your time with us is productive and enjoyable and effective. Our staff are experienced in managing volunteer expectations, and have a background in development.

Development impact

Every camp aims to achieve some kind of development impact which has been developed in partnership with a credible partner, in our case Moving Mountains which has nearly 20 years of experience in supporting social welfare, education and health in developing countries.

We analyse the processes of change that occur so that there is clear evidence for the need of events like this, and we use impact assessment ‘maps’ to try and define the developmental process.

We communicate with all relevant stakeholders and ensure that the placements are collectively agreed, for example with regional administrations and village development committees in the Solukhumbu region.

Integrating with the community

The living arrangements for placements ensures that volunteers develop a real insight into the lives of the community, which includes trekking through local villages, experiencing Tibetan Buddhism, cooking local recipes and using community facilities like Medical Clinic in Bumburi and the schools which we’ve developed.

Long term commitment

During the trip there is always opportunity to meet with experienced staff who can help with evaluations and reflection, helping to build on the skills and knowledge and experience being gained.  One of the biggest aims of the programme is to encourage people to engage in society on their return and take part in many incentives to promote global healthcare solutions.

Without doubt you will witness the strong links between Adventure Alternative and Moving Mountains in the communities that you are placed. As such, you will be an ambassador for both Adventure Alternative and Moving Mountains and there will be many young people looking up to you as a role model.

You will not be expected to be a visiting Doctor who sees patients although sometimes of course misunderstanding occurs, we recommend you discuss clearly with the supervisor what you can and can’t do, and also make it clear to patients that they are being seen by a student and not a qualified Doctor. Read our paper on Ethics of a Medical Elective to see more. This takes communication and an ethical attitude from us to make sure your time in-country is not misused.

The promise to Moving Mountains

Adventure Alternative works with the Moving Mountains Trust which operates NGOs in Kenya and Nepal and carries out many long term projects and programmes.

‘MM’ was started by Gavin Bate during many years working in aid work and development, and ‘AA’ is the company that provides revenue and investment for many of them to become financially self-sufficient.

This relationship between company and charity began in 1991 and our medical programme has sprung from the relationships we have with the medical authorities and the communities which you will visit.

We run long term ongoing medical programmes through Moving Mountains, and also at the request of local communities and hospitals. We have worked with medical authorities in many locations to ensure ongoing continuity as well as medical co-operation with other aspects of our work, for example the eco-stoves that we’re installing and the clean water supply that we’re providing, and the clinic we’ve built to provide quality healthcare in this rural part of the world.

For this trip you don’t need to be a fully qualified physician, the programme is designed so that you are giving a valuable service but also gaining fantastic experience. At the same time it is allowing you to interact with local Nepalese Doctors, Dentists and Pharmacists who can show you specific applications tailored to the local needs. We are not expecting you to be experts in any specific or even related fields, but we will expect you to come back with a great deal of knowledge at the end of it.

The most important characteristics you need are openness, willingness to learn and take part, enthusiasm, initiative and a sense of curiosity. Your experience simply as a person from another culture will give you an enormous amount to share with local people who perhaps have less opportunities than you. The trip can be emotional, and you will meet people whose lives seem almost impossible to live, but your interaction with them will help in ways you can’t measure.

We run our trips from a permanently staffed office in Kathmandu and our local team provide an excellent service. They know how to deal with medical emergencies and speak good English. They are very attentive and after so many years have a good understanding of western needs. The Moving Mountains and Adventure Alternative staff and the local community will cater for all the group needs. All accommodation in the mountains is in home-stays, lodges or teahouses which are well equipped, warm and sociable.

Read about both our Medical Camps in Nepal and Kenya to choose which camp suits your expectations. If you plan to also trek whilst there you will also find various Blogs about treks in Nepal and also the ‘More Information’ section, both have tabs on this page and will answer every question you may have! We also have a lot of useful information on our Nepal Preparation page.