Himalayan Healthcare for 5000: Save Lives in Nepal

PHASE Nepal runs two similar clinics in the remote district of Humla: one in Maila and one in Melcham. During our visit we had the pleasure of visiting the clinic in Melcham and observing how it is run. There are no roads to Melcham, and it took us several days to hike to the village. In such a remote part of the country, a clinic like PHASE’s has a big impact.

We walked inside the Melcham clinic to discover a well utilized space: the floors were sanitized, the medicines were organized, and there was equipment available for most imaginable situations. The clinic staff was even prepared with “Emergency” and “Home Delivery” backpacks when home visits are necessary! During the hours we were there, the clinic was quite busy.  We learned that people come to the clinic from five or six villages in the area, and they sometimes walk for seven hours to arrive! The patients that we met had concerns which ranged from infection to bandage changing to family planning. Each patient was assessed in a private room, and then the necessary medicines were administered, free of cost.

Kalpana, the clinic’s cheerful nurse, kindly hosted us during our visit. In addition to showing us around the clinic itself, she explained the many charts and calendars that papered the office walls. Many of them corresponded with PHASE’s community health initiatives. Among many other things, PHASE Nepal hosts monthly immunizations by government staff, organizes school education days, and schedules health visits to surrounding villages. This keeps the small staff of three very busy!

While we enjoyed watching the clinic in-action, our favorite part of our visit in Melcham was the opportunity to speak to many community members! Almost everyone we met along the trail from Simikot to Melcham had heard of the PHASE Nepal clinic, and they had nothing but good things to say about it. Many of them wanted to share ways that the clinic has helped them or someone they know; I only wish I knew enough Nepali language to understand and translate those stories!