Mobile Clinics

A positive part of the GA is SAV which runs mobile clinics five days a week in the surrounding villages. I have been able to go out on two and have loved it. The villages are in the hillsides so the rides up are breathtaking. It is a really cool feeling to be above and surrounding by clouds. It also shows just how big the valley is! The mobile clinics are supported by multiple donor's, but all of the medicine comes from one donor who grew up in New York and has "the Irish work ethic, very down to earth" I am not making that up, that is really how he was described to me. He currently lives in Singapore and comes about 3-4 times a year to see how the clinics are doing. I am looking forward to meeting him. What the clinic does is it provides medicine to people who can't make it to the valley to seek help. They come to each village every fifteen days. It staffs five nurses, one doctor, and several students studying medicine. I haven't meet the doctor yet, but the nurses do a wonderful job. I mainly help with clerical stuff, filling in the log with the names and medicines given to each patient, and helping to fill out ID cards so people can come to the clinic. It is hard though, because I've noticed that many of the patients receive the same medicine each time, which brings up the issue are you treating the problem or the symptoms? At the same time, resources are scarce and many people can barley afford the 10 rupees for a visit, so how could they afford a hospital bill? At least by taking care of the symptoms you are easing their discomfort. Sean and I have talked about this quote a bit, and it seems like its just an endless circle. It also shows me how much I take for granted the medical options I have in the U.S., hell even here. The mobile clinics are something that I really enjoy, but it will be a lot better when I can speak Nepali, since for most of the villagers Nepali is their second language, so I do a lot of gestures. The one good thing is that with the kids it doesn't matter what you speak, you can still play.