Volunteering in the Himalayan Dolpo

Himalayan Dolpo is located 4000m ASL in Western Nepal in the rugged foothills of Himalayas. It is said to be one of the highest habitats of the world. Dolpo people lack health services of any kind, and have neither aroad nor motorized transport to connect them with Kathmandu in theevent of serious illness or accident: they have to trek for four daythrough the mountains with yaks or horses in order to receive help.They have a high infant mortality rate, with many women dying inchildbirth. Ten percent of their children die before maturity, and lifeexpectancy for Dolpo adults is 46 years for women, and 48 years for men. They are Tibetan Buddhists, and if they can afford it, and are fitenough, many people make the journey to Kathmandu to attend religiousceremonies during the winter months -- thus they avoid being snowed inat home, and can stock up with provisions. So In January 2009, the spiritual pastor of the Dolpo community, TulkuSherab Zangpo Rinpoche, guided the establishment of a free healthclinic for the Dolpo people. This was staffed by volunteer healthprofessionals in rented premises, and provided treatments for threehundred people. This initiative is now called  the 'Himalayan Dolpo Healing Project'. A committee chaired by Venerable Dolpo Tulku Rinpoche are now  buyingland in Kathmandu to establish a permanent Day Health Clinic. There were two West Australian volunteers in the first clinic – AniSherab Dolma, a Tibetan Buddhist nun, and John Ross, a Doctor withthirty years experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine andAcupuncture. They are now committee members, and will continue theirassociation with the project. A second free clinic is now scheduled commencing in December 2009 which is expected to continue for at least 3 months. The Himalayan Dolpo Healing Project is seeking volunteer health care workers to participate in this upcoming clinic. Health care workers of any background are requested to apply, however, currently pediatricians, obstetricians, general practitioners, dentists, chiropractors, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, nursing staff are of high demand. The Himalayan Dolpo Healing Project has also set up a website to generate awareness of this project and also to raise funds. The project does not receive funding from any government or non-government agencies and solely relies on generosity of public. For more information please visit http://www.himalayandolpo.org . Please consider offering your help for this worthwhile cause.

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