March 23: The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) Nepal has deputed medical teams comprising foreign doctors in three places of Solukhumbu and Manang districts for the treatment of domestic and foreign trekkers.

The HRA was established in 2030 BS with an objective of reducing casualties in the Himalayas of Nepal, especially keeping in view the increasing number of Nepalese and foreigners who trek up into the remote wilderness.

Chief Executive Officer of HRA, Govinda Basyal, told RSS that with the onset of spring season, the HRA deputed three foreign doctors and two Nepali doctors at Sagarmatha Base Camp and Pheriche of Solukhumbu and Manang village of Manang district by setting up temporary health center.

"We mobilized voluntary health workers by imparting training to provide specialist service targeting the domestic and foreign tourists heading for trekking and climbing mountains," he shared.

A team comprising a foreign and two Nepali doctors would provide health services at Sagarmatha Base Camp while a team comprising two foreign doctors at Pheriche of Solukhumbu and Manang village of Manang district each. 

HRA staff are also in the teams. A team deputed at Manang village has started its works from Friday.

Australian physicians Dr Patrick Julian Teems and Dr Thomas Ross McFarlen have been deputed to the Mananag Health Post, Dr Kathreen Anna Grela of Australia and Dr Brian Mitchell Streakland of America have been deputed to the Pheriche Health Post while American Dr Gregory Hugh Steeler and two Nepalis, Dr Nishant Joshi and Dr Shreyeshi Karki have been deputed to the Everest Base Camp.

The HRA has been providing services to thousands of domestic and foreign mountaineers every year. Similarly, it provides health care services to the trekkers on the occasion of the Janai Purnima festival by setting up a medical camp at Gosaikunda.

HRA Chair Dambar Parajuli said the volunteer doctors mobilized in these places have been sent after providing them extensive training on dealing with high altitude sickness and other medical issues that might occur in the high mountain region.

The team has been providing free health services to the domestic trekkers. The Association has been deputing to the work areas only those doctors who have taken approval from the Nepal Medical Council, Parajuli said.

Since 2003, the HRA has been providing services to the mountaineers and the support staff working for the mountaineering expeditions and other trekkers by setting up a health camp at the Mt Everest Base Camp.

Health service has been provided at Pheriche since 1973, at Manang village since 1980 and at Gosainkunda since 1997. -- RSS