Fikuri Village Medical Clinic
In the beginning our efforts in Nepal had focused on education, infrastructure and earthquake recovery. The idea to refit the Fikuri Medical Clinic in Satdobate villlage with updated pre and post natal equipment was brought to the table by Carol Hedgeman, a nurse/mid wife from New Zealand.
Carol visited the Fikuri Medical Centre with Arjun on a trip to the village organised through the Active Hearts Foundation.
Carol had been researching the high infant mortality rates in Nepal and why. Lack of trained professionals and safe, sterile equipment in these remote areas were large factors.
After visiting the Fikuri Medical Clinic and discussing the needs of the local mothers and midwives, Kelsey Meyer (Alaska) Active Hearts Foundation team member and nurse came up with a list of much needed equipment. Dan and Arjun contacted the Sagarmatha Meditech Solutions company in Kathmandu and after a bit of research on purchasing and transporting costs from India we had our wish list and quotes.
Kelsey in the meantime had returned to Alaska
She organised a fundraising evening in her home town of Fairbanks, Alaska and the event was called ‘A Taste of Nepal’
The date set was Dec 20th 2015
The guests were to be treated to a delicious array of Nepalese food including vege and chicken curries, Nepalese dal (lentils), rice, chutneys and naan breads. Kelsey shared the Active Hearts Foundation story and Dan called in and made a appearance via video from New Zealand. Also held was a silent auction of gifts from all over the world and a raffle.
The evening was capped off with entertainment from sister and brother duo Teal and Luke Rogers. Teal performed on her aerial silks and Luke, a fantastic guitarist, provided the music. A $10 donation to Active Hearts was asked of the guests to attend.
It was a perfect evening for ‘A Taste of Nepal’ with the temperatures at -15C or 5F and the sun was up for only about 3.5hrs long setting at 2:45pm!
Guests were reminded to bring their slippers!
The evening was a hit! Approximately 35 people came to enjoy ‘A Taste of Nepal’ and an incredible $2012USD was raised!
Kelsey, her family and the volunteers did an incredible job with the food and Teal and Luke’s performance was very impressive and there were some happy folk after their auction wins.
Back in Nepal the order was put forward to purchase:
Plastic Aprons, Patient Gowns, Bed Sheets, Pillows, Blankets, Baby Scales, Baby Crib, Baby Crib Mattress, Privacy Screens, Birthing Bed, Foam Mattress, Oxygen Cylinders and Flow Meters, Oxygen trolley, Pulse Oximeter, Foetal Heart Doppler
Dan and Arjun also purchased stretchers, heaters and gumboots for the midwives.
The equipment all arrived by truck from India a few weeks later. The equipment was gifted to the Sikuri Medical Clinic on 29 May 2016, exactly 63 years after the first Mt Everest summit.
The equipment, although just a small token of support, will allow the experience of rural birthing to be a little more private, comfortable and safer for the mothers and midwives. We look forward to continuing to assist the medical centre and extending our reach further as we grow.
The Active Hearts Foundation team would like to thank all those who helped with the Sikuri Medical Clinic project, especially Carol Hedgeman and Kelsey Meyer x
