Kunde Hospital, Khunde, Solukhumbu - An introduction

[Angel]

Recently I have been to Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, World's Highest High Altitude Marathon, Toughest Marathon, Mount Everest during my treck to Everest Base Camp (EBC) I was out of stock for some necessary medicines then I went to Kunde Hospital to request for the help. I was astonished not only by Dr. Kami's and Dr. Sonam's hospitality but also by their help, they provides me all the medicine that I was looking for that made my furhter trekking to EBC more comfortable.

Dr. Kami is seriving this hospital for decades, Dr. Sonam is newly appointed medical officer at Kunde Hospital. It is matter of pride for the locals that both of them belong to that region and serving their community in such a remote area. Khunde is a Sherpa village which lies at an altitude of 4000 meters.


KUNDE HOSPITAL
Solukhumbu
A Community Project of the Himalayan Trust


Built in 1966 A.D., Kunde Hospital provides medical cover for 10,000 local population and visiting trekkers. It has a staff of 5 (a western trained Sherpa doctor, two medical assistants and one mid wifery nurse). Both New Zealand and Canada provide doctors to assist with the hospital. With the 15 bed at Kunde Hospital, the hospital can offer both an inpatient and outpatient service to the local community. The Hospital supervises 7 community out reach clinics located n the main settlements (Pangboche, Phortse, Debuche, Thami, Namche, Monju and Choplung) in the region.

The hospital and medical services are primarily funded through contributions from the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation of Canada and grants from the Canadian International Developmental Agency (CIDA).

The Hospital offers 24 hres emergency cover to the community with hospital hours as follows:
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday : 9 AM to 5 PM
Wednesday : 9 AM to 1 PM
Saturday: closed

Thank you

--
Dr. Kami Temba Sherpa
Medical Director
Kunde Hospital


ORIGIN
On May 29, 1953, Mt. Everest was first summitted by Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norge Sherpa. In the many years that followed, Sir Edmund Hillary has had many adventures the world over – but he has returned to Nepal, to his friend and Sherpas dedicating himself to helping them acquire basic needs that we take for granted. Sir Edmund Hillary, with his own hand and with the eager involvement of Sherpas, set out to create schools, hospitals and health clinics and to limit environmental damgae.


METHODS
The approach of the trust is amied at long term solutions to the problems that confront the Sherpas. Every project develops from a proposal made to by the Sherpas who are expected to undertake preparatory workd first. For example, in building schools or health clinics, the villagers must secure the freehold land begins the rock foundation of the building and provide volunteers to transport building supplies. Sir Edmund provides funds for these and technical help and advice on the job – as well as help with subsequent maintenance.

PROJECTS
These fall into four main categories:
1. Schools and scholarships
2. Hospitals and Village Health Clinics
3. Forest, Nurseries, Planting, Conservation
4. Natural and Accidental Disaster Relief


ACHIEVEMENTS

• The trust relies entirely on voluntary workers, has virtually no overheads, as a result all donations are spent in Nepal. No Money is paid to middle men or agents.
• Over 40 primary and secondary schools have been built and are continually maintained.
• Over 100 students receive grants for higher educations.
• Two hospitals, one at Phaplu and Kunde, were built, staffed and maintained.
• Almost 100,000 trees are nurtured, planted and protected each year and more than 1 million have been planted in the Sagarmatha National Park.
• Isolated communities are helped to rebuild washed away bridges and tracks; drinking water systerms have been constructed.
• Initial building of Lukla airstrip.
• Improvement of Sherpa life expectancy.

The Himalayan Trust relies on voluntary donations from around the world.

Donations of money or kind can be made to the followings:

Himalayant Trust
Sir Edmund Hillary, Cairperson
278A Remuera Road
Auckland 5
New Zealand
junemulgrew@xtra.co.nz

The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation
Mr. W. Z. O’Conner, President
222 Jarvis Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2B8
Canada
zoconno@sears.ca

The Hillary Foundation
Mr. Larry D. Witherebee, President
614Saddlewood Drive
Glen Ellyn, Illiois 60137
U.S.A.
ginotag@aol.com

Sir Edmund Hillary – Stiftung Deutschland E. V.
Ms. Inrid Versen
Altweisser Weg 6
D-83707 Bad Wiesse
Germany

Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Trust
Charity No 1000153
Mr George Band, Chairperson
Thakhams Lane, Hartley Wintney
Hook, RG27 8JG
England
georgeandmary@lowecroft.freeserve.co.uk

Please not that all funds sent to the Canada, German and U.S. Foundations are tax deductible. Contributions to the British Trust are also tax deductible through the Charities Aid Foundation. Donations can be made by personal cheque payable to the name of the individual chapter lited above.


Kunde Hospital
c/o Himalayan Trust
Dilli Bazaar, PO Box 224
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: (977)-1-4412168, (977) 19 626023
Web: www.himalayan-trust.org.np
Email: docktsherpa@yahoo.com

Source: Kunde Hospital booklet

[Angel]

Official website of Himalayan Trust

http://www.himalayan-trust.org.np

[Angel]

On 29th May, 2007 (the marathon day), one of the participants who came third in the female category had to be rescued from the finishing point at Namche.

I took her to the Kunde hospital via helicopter, the weather was not favourable though, we had difficulty reaching the hospital.

[Rajiv]

thanx for sharing

[Suvash]

hello angel dai, its nice to hear about your trip... sounds an exciting one... we all appreciate your effort for the noble cause.... and it feels even more good to hear about the kunde hospital and our brothers working there, serving our own people despite the physical adversities..... they are perfect examples to everyone of us......

sir,
its really nice to read about ur experiences the special trip.
I am really touched by the kinds of services it offers and its achievements (which it is maintaining )!
Thank u sharing garna ko laagi.........take care
n live with passion

[Mati]

Yea,
Me too visited this extraordinary hospital!!!
I had interaction with Dr Kami Temba Sherpa. It's nice to visit a hospital that you have been reading in literatures.
Dr Karmi made me a tour of all the sections and facilities of the hospital. It's really impressive.

If you are in the this region, it's nice to visit this hospital.

Best wishes,
mati

[mingma_thsering]

HI Angel dai and Mati dai
I am so happy when i found out that you guys actually visited my hometown. Yes Khumbu is definitely a great place to be in and am proud to be a Sherpa. I am glad that you met my Uncle Kami Sherpa and bro Sonam.
Did you guys visit Lukla hospital? It has been established with the financial aid from a Swiss lady few years back. I am studying under the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship at NMC and wish to go to Kunde henceforth.
Anyway i would like to thank you guys very much for bringing into light my hometown and especially Kunde hospital.
With best regards
Mingma Thsering Sherpa

[Sarensa]

Thankx for sharing such a wonderful experience of yours with all of us. Felt good to know about one of our remote hospital and the people working there despite all the difficulties.

[Mati]

Yes Mingma,

HI Angel dai and Mati dai
I am so happy when i found out that you guys actually visited my hometown. Yes Khumbu is definitely a great place to be in and am proud to be a Sherpa. I am glad that you met my Uncle Kami Sherpa and bro Sonam.
Did you guys visit Lukla hospital? It has been established with the financial aid from a Swiss lady few years back. I am studying under the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship at NMC and wish to go to Kunde henceforth.
Anyway i would like to thank you guys very much for bringing into light my hometown and especially Kunde hospital.
With best regards
Mingma Thsering Sherpa

I have special interest in the altitude medicine and has been working since my second year in this field. I'm satisfied.

I visited Khumjung, Khunde and Khunde Hospital........!!! I talked to Dr Kami Sherpa about you as well. He was amazed and happy to know about that. He talked that your father was his contemporary and he took medicine while your father Pilot !!! He was talking about your family as well. You all are doing good in education !!! Excellent !!! Keep up the good work.

I don't want to go the sad aspects and ill fated things of the past Mingma. Anyway, we have to learn from the past and pay tribute to them which you are doing in a right manner. That's even more good. It's nice that you are doing medicine with Sir Edmund Hilary's Scholarship.

Our guide was also from Khumjung (Tenzing from Pan Himalay/ Summit Trek) who happen to know you as well.

I also visited Lukal Hospital. I'm obsessed with all these: places, people, culture, society, living, interaction and of course my stuff: Medicine, Hospital, Health seeking behavior and health care delivery system. There, a beautiful sherpa lady from administration section took me to the hospital details..........currently there are two doctors: Jangbou and a swiss volunteer doctor. Dr Ang already left for South Africa like that....

Anyway, this is a memorable and educational venture to me except research stuff.


The Khumjung under cloud: from Khunde...............



The Khunde Hospital...............



The Lukla Hospital Gate...............



The Lukla Hospital...............



Best wishes,
mati