In memory of Helene Egger Matscher

A health post is very important for a village, emphasises Buddy Maya Sherpa. She herself can confirm that people are more likely to stay in the village if they receive medical care there. In Thamo, a small village in Solukhumbu, every house is inhabited. Especially the older generation likes to stay in their village, but also young people, such as trekking Guides, stay in the village with their families. In other villages, most of the young migrate to Kathmandu and the older ones stay behind alone.

Thamo now has a health post and a house nearby where a nurse can live. Pro Nepal has financed this small residential house in memory of its founder Helene Egger Matscher. The proposal for this project was made by Buddy Maya Sherpa. Together with her sister she also accompanied the whole construction process.

The materials for the construction were bought in Kathmandu, flown to Syangboche by helicopter and finally brought to Thamo with porters. Windows and doors were finished on site. The house was built with stones and cement, clad with wood on the inside, and the floors are also made of wood. The house has a covered terrace, a large bedroom, a kitchen with dining area, a toilet with shower. A septic tank for the waste water was also built. Water and electricity lines come from the main village of Thamo and have been piped to the edge of the village where the house is located. So there is electricity and water in the house. A bed, shelves and kitchen with utensils were bought with the budget.

A nurse has already moved into the new house and works in the nearby health station. She administers medicines, gives vaccinations, takes blood pressure and insulin measurements. This improves the people’s health care considerably. Before, the nurse had to walk three to four hours to Khunde to fetch individual medicines.

It is especially the women who benefit from the health station and the nurse’s constant presence. While their husbands earn their money with trekking tours or expeditions, the women live in the village with their children all year round. Usually, they only visit a doctor or hospital when they are already seriously ill. By then it can often be too late.

With a nurse on site and a doctor who ordains once a week, preventive care is also guaranteed. In the future, this is to be strengthened by doctors’ camps, which are to take place once a year. For example, in the field of dentistry or gynaecology.

Pro Nepal has made a great contribution with the residential house for the nurse, says Buddy Maya and thanks her on behalf of the residents of Thamo.