Latest News From Our Volunteers in Nepal
Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world and has been plagued with political unrest and military conflict for the past decade. In 2015, a pair of major earthquakes devastated this small and fragile country.
Since 2008, the Acupuncture Relief Project has provided over 300,000 treatments to patients living in rural villages outside of Kathmandu Nepal. Our efforts include the treatment of patients living without access to modern medical care as well as people suffering from extreme poverty, substance abuse and social disfranchisement.
Common conditions include musculoskeletal pain, digestive pain, hypertension, diabetes, stroke rehabilitation, uterine prolapse, asthma, and recovery from tuberculosis treatment, typhoid fever, and surgery.
35-year-old female presents with multiple bilateral joint pain beginning 18 months previously and had received a diagnosis of…
20-year-old male patient presents with decreased mental capacity, which his mother states has been present since birth. He…
60-year-old female presents with spinal trauma sequela consisting of constant mid- to high grade pain and restricted flexion…
80-year-old male presents with vomiting 20 minutes after each meal for 2 years. At the time of initial…
In the aftermath of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, this episode explores the challenges of providing basic medical access for people living in rural areas.
Acupuncture Relief Project tackles complicated medical cases through accurate assessment and the cooperation of both governmental and non-governmental agencies.
Cooperation with the local government yields a unique opportunities to establish a new integrated medicine outpost in Bajra Barahi, Makawanpur, Nepal.
Complicated medical cases require extraordinary effort. This episode follows 4-year-old Sushmita in her battle with tuberculosis.
Drug and alcohol abuse is a constant issue in both rural and urban areas of Nepal. Local customs and few treatment facilities prove difficult obstacles.
Interpreters help make a critical connection between patients and practitioners. This episode explores the people that make our medicine possible and what it takes to do the job.
This episode looks at the people and the process of creating a new generation of Nepali rural health providers.
In this 2011, documentary, Film-maker Tristan Stoch successfully illustrates many of the complexities of providing primary medical care in a third world environment.
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It seems so long ago (Nov. 10th) that we were all sitting on the roof of the clinic drinking tea and wondering if anyone would show up. Then the doors opened... After seven 10 hour days, our team of four has treated nearly 600 people. It has been a very exciting, challenging and exhausting week for all of us. Many of our patients have never seen a doctor in their entire life and every morning they flood into the clinic and sometimes wait up to six hours to be treated. Chronic pain from a lifetime of backbreaking work is the most common complaint however we have also treated dozens of asthma cases, strokes, skin conditions, unhealed broken bones, leopard attack wounds, diabetes, gastritis and ear infections. We have treated patients as old as 90 and as young as 6 months. All have been overwhelmingly receptive to what must be a completely confusing experience. Many of our patients have been thrown by us needling a wrist or a foot to treat their shoulder pain and we have been asked numerous times "what kind of medicine is on the needles?" Most days the electricity goes out at some point and we treat our last few patients by candlelight. | |
We are completely indebted to our interpreting staff who have been working tirelessly beside us facilitating our crucial verbal link with our patients. And to the kind monks at the monastery who make sure we get an ample supply of Nepali tea and food during the day. In the evenings we sit on the roof, laugh, unwind and share what we have learned during the day. Currently we are back in Kathmandu taking a two day rest, eating large quantities of western food and indulging in hot showers. The clinic reopens on November 21st and we are looking forward another full week. Thanks for all of the email and words of encouragement. Stay tuned for future updates. | |
The Acupuncture Relief Project team arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal Monday November 3rd. We were warmly welcomed by Phakchok Rinpoche and his staff who are all very enthusiastic about our stay in Nepal. Through considerable effort, our team was able to bring over 500lbs. of acupuncture supplies and herbal medicines for our clinic project. We have spent the last three days at the clinic site in Chapaguan (a village about a hour and a half south of Kathmandu) enjoying spectacular views of the Himalayas. We have a brand new building to work out of next to a small Tibetan monastery housing over 50 novice monks. We have met with several local businessmen and community leaders who received treatment and are eager to spread the word about out clinic opening on November 10th. We are all very excited to be here and are ready to get started.
Thanks to all of our families, friends and to our generous donors for giving us the support to make this project possible.
Acupuncture Relief Project has agreed to partner with Rangjung Yeshe Shenpen health care project for this year's clinic. Rangjung Yeshe Shenpen is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization established to alleviate poverty and address social challenges, principally in Nepal. Founded in 2004 by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Phakchok Rinpoche, Shenpen focuses on helping the poor and disadvantaged gain access to health care facilities, education, shelter and employment opportunities and to improve the care and treatment of animals. In their many health care projects, Shenpen takes a holistic approach combining the best methods from the west and the east, including Tibetan medicine, ayurvedic medicine and acupuncture.
Acupuncture Relief Project volunteers will be living at the Vajra Varahi Gompa and working in the newly constructed Vajra Varahi Clinic in Chapaguan (just outside of Kathmandu). This new facility will allow us to treat at least of 120 patients a day. In preparation of our arrival, the Shenpen staff is busy training medical interpreters to assist us.
Our clinic is slated to open on November 10, 2008. We are looking forward to our work with our gracious hosts in providing effective acupuncture treatment for the Chapaguan community.
For more information on Rangjung Yeshe Shenpen: http://www.shenpennepal.org
Acupuncture Relief Project, Inc. is a volunteer-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization (Tax ID: 26-3335265). Our mission is to provide free medical support to those affected by poverty, conflict or disaster while offering an educationally meaningful experience to influence the professional development and personal growth of compassionate medical practitioners.