22/06/2023

Our latest Medical Camp restores hearing and changes lives

The healthcare we provide at our Medical Camps is critical for many people living in rural Nepal, with some villagers travelling for days to access our first-class treatment. For many, this is the only medical assistance they receive.

Our most recent Medical Camp in Khandbari specialised in treating hearing difficulties, performing minor ear surgeries. Located in the northeast of Nepal, Khandbari is a remote village set in the hilly Sankhuwasabha District. We provided nearly 500 patients with vital care, distributing hundreds of hearing aids and other assistive devices over the course of three days.

‘I can hear voices clearly’

Tika Maya travelled for five hours by car to the camp to be fitted for a hearing aid. Before she received care, it was extremely difficult for the 68 year-old to communicate with others and understand what they were saying.

“I was really surprised and thankful for the services I got from this camp,” Tika Maya said. “It used to be difficult to communicate with people. They used to shout and get angry with me because I couldn’t hear. Then I used to shout back at them. But that won’t be the case now. Now, I can hear voices clearly.

“I am very grateful and thankful to the donors. May God bless them.”

Two days of difficult travel

Narayan Gurung arrived at our Medical Camp with his wife, Sarswati, and their 18 month-old baby. It took them two days to reach us – one day of hard walking through forests and another day of traveling by vehicle on unpaved roads.

Narayan and his family come from a very remote village with no medical facilities. If they need medical attention, they must travel a great distance to the district hospital, which they cannot always afford. They were incredibly thankful for our Medical Camp, which provided Narayan with the care he needed at no cost to his family.

“We came to know about this medical camp from my relatives who live in Khandbari,” said Sarswati.

Narayan’s wife explained to our team that he had been dealing with hearing issues for 12 years. He had tried to seek medical help before, but he could not afford the treatment he needed. Once our team of experts assessed Narayan, we fitted him with a hearing aid, which immediately made a difference.

“Thank you,” said Narayan. “I received this new hearing aid and I can hear things better. I can her people talk.”

“The GWT’s Medical Camp is better,” said Sarswati. “There are many resources. They have also given counselling on where we can go if we want further treatment or want to consult with other doctors. Everything here is free of cost. We like this camp and are happy with the service.

“If you cannot hear then it’s very difficult. He doesn’t hear what others say. He doesn’t respond when we call him. We must shout to speak with him. I think he can hear better after you have given him a hearing aid.

“We have come this far to get a proper medical treatment and we are going back home happy and satisfied with the service. Thank you very much to the donors who have helped people like us from such rural areas.”

Relief after decades of hearing loss

For over 20 years, Sugan has dealt with acute hearing loss. His condition worsened as he grew older, and eventually he could no longer work. “The doctors said I had a problem with my nerves,” Sugan recalled. “They told me that I had to wear a hearing aid. But that hearing aid was not good, so I stopped wearing it.”

Sugan was thrilled with the new hearing aid fitted by our team of experts. “This device provided by the GWT is very good,” he said. “I can hear clearly. I am very happy.

“I used to have a lot of problems. Not being able to hear is one on the most difficult problems you can have. I couldn’t understand what anyone was saying. I couldn’t interact with people as well. Now, that won’t be the case.

“Thank you very much to the donors. I now can hear clearly. This camp is a blessing to the people who cannot hear.”