DrukPemaKarpoMenkhung

A medical facility operated and managed by the nuns and volunteers of Druk Amitabha Mountain for the benefit of the community under the direction of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa.

News 2009

Planning for cataract treatment clinic

Written by Jigme Urgyen
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In conjunction with Tilganga Eye Centre in Kathmandu (www.tilganga.org) and Druk White Lotus Clinic, we are in the planning stage to host an eye clinic at our facility in Druk Amitabha Mountain during the Birthday celebrations of His Holiness in March of 2010.

The clinic is organised in such a way that people from the region around Kathmandu are screened and assessed for suitability for treatment, those people are then wait listed to undergo specialist surgery for the removal of cataracts. The surgery is performed by the specialists from Tilganga, however the facilities, support, accommodation and meals will be provided by the Druk White Lotus Clinic.

A couple of weeks ago, we sent a group of the Druk White Lotus Clinic Nuns and some Nuns from the Druk Amitabha Mountain Office to participate in a clinic that was being held at the Pullahari Monastery. The Nuns are responsible for the organisation and logistics whilst the clinic is underway here, so they went along to get some experience and understanding in the planning and organisational aspects.

Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day. Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day. Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day. Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day. Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day. Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day. Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day. Clinic setup :: Nuns helping to setup on the first day.
Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients. Assessment and updating patient records :: Nuns assisting in the screening and organisation of patients.

The Nuns spent a total of 4 days being involved in the clinic at Pullahari. Whilst they where there they also assisted the medical staff in all of the procedures. Whilst the clinic is being held at Druk White Lotus Clinic, the nuns will be providing all of the support and assistance to the medical staff from Tilganga, so this was a great opportunity for them to learn all of the different aspects of the support and assistance that will be needed.

Clinic Pre-OP :: Nuns helping with getting patients ready for surgery. Clinic Pre-OP :: Nuns helping with getting patients ready for surgery. Clinic Pre-OP :: Nuns helping with getting patients ready for surgery. Clinic Pre-OP :: Nuns helping with getting patients ready for surgery. Clinic Pre-OP :: Nuns helping with getting patients ready for surgery. Clinic Pre-OP :: Nuns helping with getting patients ready for surgery.
Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons. Clinic OT :: Nuns watching the cataract surgery and getting instructions from the surgeons.
Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery. Clinic Post OP :: Nuns helping with the patients after the surgery with dressing and recovery.

Now all the Nuns have returned to Druk Amitabha Mountain and are working towards preparation for the clinic to be held here at the Druk White Lotus Clinic, not to mention the large birthday celebrations for His Holiness. We look forward to being able to post more interesting news and photos as the preparations continue.

Last Updated on 20 June 2010
 

Progress report

Written by Jigme Urgyen
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Clinic Garden Landscaping of the grounds around the clinic has been underway for several weeks now. A large number of plants have been added along the perimeter boundary wall, as well as earth sculpting and grass overlaid on top. Because it is monsoon season at the moment, the landscaping works become established very quickly. Plants settle in nicely and everything begins to grow almost immediately.

Building works continues on the second floor level. This level contains the accommodations for visiting specialists or resident doctors, nurses and administration staff who will eventually take up their full time posts at the clinic. Most of the work being undertaken now is in the finishing phase of the overall project, rendering the walls, ceiling and tiling the floor surface. Also the electrical items, such as wiring, lighting, switches and sockets are being fitted.

The next steps will be fitting windows and doors, and cleaning up in preparations for painting and the final finishing touches.

The exterior areas around the upper level apartments are also being finished off, this include tiling the stair case and the facade of the building.

The ground floor level, which is the main clinic area is now complete, all finishing and cleaning has been completed.

2nd Floor :: Tradesmen Working 2nd Floor :: Tradesmen Working

Exterior :: Tiles and Finishing Exterior :: Tiles and Finishing Exterior :: Tiles and Finishing Exterior :: Tiles and Finishing Main Entrance

Last Updated on 20 June 2010
 

Visiting ophthalmology specialist

Written by Jigme Urgyen
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Dr Javier Carreras came all the way from Spain to start our eye clinic section at Druk Pema Karpo Clinic on our Druk Amitabha Mountain, Kathmandu and has been training 14 of my nuns to be familiar with the techniques of getting eye tests and giving very minor treatment to eye patients.

There is a piece of exciting news to share with you. I was unnecessarily excited, yet there is nothing to be excited about. We just sent Dr. Carreras to Leh to go around the villages, to help local Ladakhis who may be suffering from eye problems. He and his wife have been staying with us in Kathmandu for almost one month and he has been setting up an eye clinic and training up 14 of my nuns to be medical assistants in this area. Dr. Carreras is such a generous and kind doctor, not only he donated all the expensive eye treatment and checking devices, but also he came personally to help and to train my nuns, so that my nuns can also help many beings in the practical sense. This I believe will strengthen their own spiritual practice and is indeed LIVE TO LOVE IN ACTION.

Nun helping to check a villager's eyesight.

Dr. Carreras told me that Acute Glaucoma, also known as angle-closure glaucoma, is one of the main causes of acquired blindness. There are a large number of patients with Acute Glaucoma, particularly in Asian countries. Usually vision deteriorates within a short time after the attack of Acute Glaucoma. In some cases, because there are not subjective symptoms previous to the attack, it is not detected in regular health examinations. In contrast to other forms of glaucoma, the onset of Acute Glaucoma can be prevented in many cases by laser treatment, and the effects of that treatment can potentially last throughout the patients life. Despite the availability of preventive treatment, it is difficult for nonophthalmologists to detect eyes with possible Acute Glaucoma. As a result, many patients suffer from serious visual impairment and blindness than can be easily avoided. Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness in the world. Acute glaucoma represents the majority of primary glaucomas among Chinese and Mongolians. Similar racial groups as Tibetans, Ladakhis and many of the Himalayan people must have similar rates. It is estimated that up to a 10% of the population older that 40 years may suffer the disease. It is specially frequent among women.

Dr. Carreras also told me that risk populations are those patients older than 40 years that have a potentially occludable angle. The anterior chamber depth is directly related to the occludable angle. Then, measuring anterior chamber depth with an adequate method may allow to select, among those older that 40, the patients at risk. The shallower the anterior chamber the greater the risk. Peripheral laser iridotomy is the election procedure to prevent that eyes with shallow anterior chambers develop angle closure glaucoma. All patients with high risk of developing angle closure glaucoma may receive preventive laser treatment if they ask for it after being informed of the risks. All patients with ongoing attack of angle closure may receive curative laser treatment if the disease is not very advanced. Due to the difficulty of traveling in low populated areas some events, like concentrations that happen during religious festivals and gatherings, can be used to offer medical assistance to treat or prevent Angle Closure Glaucoma.

I was informed that 2 instruments are needed in Leh, Ladakh, to help the people there. Dr. Carreras and his wife have gone to Ladakh to survey the situation, and also give some help at the same time. In case any of you know of some information of these instruments, please inform my office about it.

machine-leh machine-leh2
A YAG laser is an essential requisite. Laser Yag (Visulas II de Zeiss) A Scanning Peripheral Anterior Chamber depht analizer (SPAC) is also an important requisite to select patients at risk out of the general population.

Here are some of the recent photos at the Druk Pema Karpo Clinic that I would like to share with you



Last Updated on 20 June 2010
   

Official opening

Written by Jigme Urgyen
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Cutting the ribbon :: His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa cutting the the ribbon

The clinic was official opened today the 8th of April 2009, the ribbon cutting was performed by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa. The inauguration was attended by many Masters of the Drukpa Lineage, Distinguished Guests and interested onlookers during the opening day of the First Annual Drukpa Council.

Last Updated on 20 June 2010