Himalayan Hospital: Sandhurst in Nepal
1968; BMJ; Volume: 114; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1136/jramc-114-04-03
ISSN2052-0468
Autores Tópico(s)Global Health and Surgery
ResumoNEPAL is a fascinating independent kingdom about 500 miles long and from 90 to 150 miles in width, lying on the southern slopes of the Himalayas.The Tibet region of the People's Republic of China is to the North, Sikkim to the East, and India on the South and West.The snow covered mountains, including Everest, Annapurna, Machapuchare, and Kanchenjunga of the upper border give way to a central belt of foothills and valleys, and a lower third of tropical jungle region adjoining the plains of India, the Terrai.Most of the' facilities' are concentrated in Katmandu, the capital.The architecture, communications, untouched scenic splendour, courtesy and honesty of the country are of a bygone age.Open only to outsiders for little over a decade, though hill tribesmen have served splendidly in the Gurkha Regiments of the British Army for over 150 years, Nepal is coming in to line with the 20th century at its own chosen pace.Indian and Chinese neighbours display some of their interest by starting roads; American, German and other concerns show their presence in various projects.In general the country remains as it was, undeveloped and unspoilt.Some air links to a variety of about a dozen grass landing strips, unusable at monsoon (June to September) and perhaps other times of the year, exist, but on the whole transport is on foot, distances being measured in days because of the nature of the country rather than in miles.Even the contours have contours, and rivers and ravines, with nerve-testing bridges or ropewalks of the sketchiest, may be approached by tracks liable to be washed away by the rains.The difficult medical position has been well described by Gulati (1965) and has changed little since.Dharan with its British Military Hospital and cantonment lies in the eastern region.A proposition for a British/Nepalese medical team to open a Red Cross hospital in the western hill areas in 1968 had been put forward, and it was thought, that a suitable place for this would be in the Baglung or Kusma areas.Accommodation would initially be tented. Sandhurst and SingaporeParties from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst are encouraged to go overseas on various sorties, and the Adventure Training Officer of Old College, Captain G. R. Owens, had Royal Engineer contacts in Far East Land Forces who could produce a surplus hospital-type Nissen hut with gable windows and to have a masonry base and ends.His network also enabled him to spend the Easter vacation on a reconnaissance to Nepal, and in consequence of this and a previous meeting with Dr. John Cunningham of the proposed medical team, it was decided to take a party from
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