2012
ANIMATED VIDEO OF THE NEW HOSPITAL ...
31 12 12 10:02
The new Hospital in 3D!
From architect's drawings, Luke Smith has created a terrific virtual aerial tour and fly-through of the new hospital! Check it out here:
Take an aerial tour of the new hospital!
From architect's drawings, Luke Smith has created a terrific virtual aerial tour and fly-through of the new hospital! Check it out here:
Take an aerial tour of the new hospital!
THE LONELINESS OF THE 10K RUNNER ...
06 12 12 09:48
Running to support the Ear Hospital!
John Olivier from Hereford UK will shortly be doing the Wye Valley New Year’s Day 10k run and is seeking sponsors to support the Ear Hospital. We wish him well because he had a bad fall on a run this summer so this will be a real test.
If you would like to sponsor John please go to his Just Giving page.
GOOD LUCK John and hope the preparations go well!
If you would like to sponsor John please go to his Just Giving page.
GOOD LUCK John and hope the preparations go well!
1,215 PATIENTS AND COUNTING ...
26 11 12 19:46
Burtibang, Western Region, Nepal, 26 November 2012
We are at the end of our 7th day of the ear camp in a village 9 hours by Land Rover from the nearest town - a very, very bumpy off-road track all the way.
We are seeing about 200 outpatients per day; 1,215 patients so far. Of these 128 have had surgery. Twenty-seven booked for tomorrow are mostly major ear ops such as mastoidectomy and ear drum repairs. So far about 490 audiograms and about 140 hearing aids fitted. We are four surgeons, two audiologists and three anaesthetists; all ops except one under local with sedation. Two young children had nasty ear abscesses to operate.
The day after tomorrow we have one more day in the village, we will see all our post op patients and do the dressings. By chance the Nepali Prime Minister comes here by helicopter that day to open a school, so we are hoping to get a visit!
I just finished a tough op, there are still two running on other op tables so we should finish by 9 pm tonight. We are working in a building site, it is a hospital building but bare concrete with no windows or flooring. Very cold!
We are at the end of our 7th day of the ear camp in a village 9 hours by Land Rover from the nearest town - a very, very bumpy off-road track all the way.
We are seeing about 200 outpatients per day; 1,215 patients so far. Of these 128 have had surgery. Twenty-seven booked for tomorrow are mostly major ear ops such as mastoidectomy and ear drum repairs. So far about 490 audiograms and about 140 hearing aids fitted. We are four surgeons, two audiologists and three anaesthetists; all ops except one under local with sedation. Two young children had nasty ear abscesses to operate.
The day after tomorrow we have one more day in the village, we will see all our post op patients and do the dressings. By chance the Nepali Prime Minister comes here by helicopter that day to open a school, so we are hoping to get a visit!
I just finished a tough op, there are still two running on other op tables so we should finish by 9 pm tonight. We are working in a building site, it is a hospital building but bare concrete with no windows or flooring. Very cold!
EAR CAMP GETS UNDERWAY
18 11 12 16:38
Kathmandu, 18 November 2012
Today we had meetings with JSA, the ear hospital architects and engineers, and spent 2 hours looking at the near complete architectural drawings. The soil test drillings were very satisfactory, the ground is very stable and so no special measures are needed for foundations. We discussed many details such as building materials and estimates will be obtained for the options regarding flooring, roofing and internal walls. Because the INF AGM is next week, many of the management team and board will be in Kathmandu, so there will be some strategic planning discussion and decisions.
This afternoon 15 of our expat team assembled from UK, Australia and New Zealand and flew to Pokhara (B) see map below - Annapurna is to the north (F) and Everest to the east (E). We leave from here at 6.30 am by minibus to travel about 3 hours to Baglung (C) and meet the Land Rovers, then we travel on unmade roads for another 3-4 hours to reach Burtibang (D). The hospital building is still under construction and incomplete, with no windows, so we are not yet quite certain in which building the camp has been planned by our Nepali on site team to take place.
So, there may be some surprises in store!
Mike
Today we had meetings with JSA, the ear hospital architects and engineers, and spent 2 hours looking at the near complete architectural drawings. The soil test drillings were very satisfactory, the ground is very stable and so no special measures are needed for foundations. We discussed many details such as building materials and estimates will be obtained for the options regarding flooring, roofing and internal walls. Because the INF AGM is next week, many of the management team and board will be in Kathmandu, so there will be some strategic planning discussion and decisions.
This afternoon 15 of our expat team assembled from UK, Australia and New Zealand and flew to Pokhara (B) see map below - Annapurna is to the north (F) and Everest to the east (E). We leave from here at 6.30 am by minibus to travel about 3 hours to Baglung (C) and meet the Land Rovers, then we travel on unmade roads for another 3-4 hours to reach Burtibang (D). The hospital building is still under construction and incomplete, with no windows, so we are not yet quite certain in which building the camp has been planned by our Nepali on site team to take place.
So, there may be some surprises in store!
Mike
View Larger MapBBC NEWS INTERVIEW WITH MIKE SMITH
09 11 12 15:20
Listen to the interview here
See other press reports here: http://www.earaidnepal.org/WhatWeDo/press.html
STEERING GROUP - INAUGURAL MEETING
04 11 12 18:03
On Sunday 4th November the steering group of Ear Aid Nepal met in Bristol to discuss the hospital development including business and financial planning, governance, and project management. These issues will all be raised again, at meetings with INF and the building contractors, in Kathmandu and Pokhara when some members of the steering group will be in Nepal in two weeks time.
Members present were (from left): Charlie Collins (chair), Mike and Fiona Smith, John and Nateisha Decruz-Young and Howard Green. Tim Beacon of Medaid and also Andy Cordell from INF-UK board (just returned from the INF European conference in Holland), were able to inform some of the discussions before and after the main meeting.
AUTOCLAVE / LED THEATRE LIGHTS NEEDED
03 11 12 10:16
Ear Hospital equipment sources needed
Good quality autoclave.
Operating theatre lights (LED if possible).
Equipment needed
Good quality autoclave.
Operating theatre lights (LED if possible).
Equipment needed
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED - APRIL 2013
03 11 12 10:13
Audiologist volunteers required for upcoming ear camps.
Two volunteers are still needed for the ear camp in April 2013. (6-21/04/2013).
Link to volunteer pages
Two volunteers are still needed for the ear camp in April 2013. (6-21/04/2013).
Link to volunteer pages
DATES OF NEXT CAMPS
20 10 12 18:31
Winter 2012
Volunteer travel dates 16/11/2012 - 1/12/2012
Camp place Burtibang, Baglung district, western region, nepal
Camp medical treatment runs from 20/11/2012 - 28/11/2012
Spring 2013
Travel dates 6-21/4/2013
Place to be confirmed
Winter 2013
Dates to be confirmed
Volunteer travel dates 16/11/2012 - 1/12/2012
Camp place Burtibang, Baglung district, western region, nepal
Camp medical treatment runs from 20/11/2012 - 28/11/2012
Spring 2013
Travel dates 6-21/4/2013
Place to be confirmed
Winter 2013
Dates to be confirmed
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
20 10 12 18:29
Yes this is it!
Everyone uses the web for information now and we knew we had to be here.
Everyone uses the web for information now and we knew we had to be here.
HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT
20 10 12 18:27
Site survey took place this week (26/9/12)
Soil testing due shortly. The Pokhara valley base especially in its southern end around the hospital site is composed of a mix of sand, small and very large boulders. Problems with other buildings in the town mean that we have been advised to do deep soil tests including bore holes. The area is at risk from earthquake so we are taking special care with seismic building preparation.
John Sanday associates (JSA) are the architectural firm preparing the plans and engineering drawings. They have long experience in the region. Sketch plans have been submitted and approved. Full engineering drawings are due by November and then the tendering process will begin, with a view to starting building in early or mid 2013.
Business case development. The intention is that the hospital should become sustainable by charging those that can afford it for treatment, and also running courses. Poorer patients will also be treated and for this we will need to run a poor fund with charitable donors. Presenting a full and detailed plan is a current high priority that many are working on.
Soil testing due shortly. The Pokhara valley base especially in its southern end around the hospital site is composed of a mix of sand, small and very large boulders. Problems with other buildings in the town mean that we have been advised to do deep soil tests including bore holes. The area is at risk from earthquake so we are taking special care with seismic building preparation.
John Sanday associates (JSA) are the architectural firm preparing the plans and engineering drawings. They have long experience in the region. Sketch plans have been submitted and approved. Full engineering drawings are due by November and then the tendering process will begin, with a view to starting building in early or mid 2013.
Business case development. The intention is that the hospital should become sustainable by charging those that can afford it for treatment, and also running courses. Poorer patients will also be treated and for this we will need to run a poor fund with charitable donors. Presenting a full and detailed plan is a current high priority that many are working on.