16 take up Nepal cause

By Kelly Yates
SIXTEEN Casey Hospital emergency department staff members are using their time off work to take part in a humanitarian and volunteer aid mission to Nepal next year.
Trish O’Kelly, one of the clinical nurse specialists at the Berwick hospital, said eight doctors, seven nurses and one pharmacist were heading overseas in April to fund, open and run a medical clinic.
The group will travel to the Himalayas to establish the medical clinic in Nangi, Annapurna, and also to assist at the Mt Everest Base Camp clinic.
The medical clinic, established in association with the Himanchal Education Foundation, will provide direct care for local villagers and an opportunity to educate and further train local health care workers.
The 33-year-old from Narre Warren said the people in Nepal lacked basic medical needs.
“They don’t have access to clean water. One in three children don’t reach the age of five because they die from gastro or diarrhoea,” said Ms O’Kelly.
“Some people have to walk for three days to see a local doctor. I know when I feel sick; the last thing I feel like doing is walking anywhere.”
Ms O’Kelly said thinking about the people suffering overseas brought a tear to her eye.
“How can we not go over there and help?” she said.
The group will travel to Nepal on 17 April and spend six weeks opening up the medical centre.
“This is an opportunity to give something back,” said Ms O’Kelly.
The team members are using their annual leave to go on the trip and have worked with Southern Health to ensure staffing levels are not compromised.
The volunteers are looking for sponsorship to help with travel costs and are planning to host a variety of fundraisers from now to April to make sure they can afford to get there.
“Every little bit will help. From $1 to $100, it all adds up,” she said.
The group ran a sausage sizzle at Casey Hospital on Tuesday and raised $300.
Anyone wishing to donate can visit Southern Health website or www.ebca2011.com.au