This is an edited version of a commentary that originally appeared on CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca, a site for Canadian healthcare professionals, and the online home of the Medical Post and Pharmacy Practice+. To read all comments on this series, visit CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca.
Guest post by Tamara Bournival, Canadian Red Cross aid worker and pharmacist from Québec who is in Nepal for a month to provide support to the field hospital set up in the aftermath of the earthquake. Tamara has been sharing her experiences; read her first post here.
It's funny how the body instinctively becomes attuned to aftershocks. When I first arrived in Nepal, I wasn't sure what to expect and it was only after experiencing a few that I began to recognize the telltale signs of a tremor. It could be external factors, like dogs barking crazily for no reason, or the birds suddenly going silent. Or it could be the sensation of a subtle rocking motion causing one to lock eyes with someone nearby to confirm that the ground is, in fact, moving.
When sleeping on the ground, it is actually possible to hear the low rumble, almost a growl, of an impending tremor as the power prepares to release. I've woken many times in the middle of the night only seconds before the ground started to shake. There have been over 250 aftershocks ranging from mild to rock and roll (5+) since the 7.8 magnitude quake struck on April 25th and scientists predict more strong aftershocks (between 5 and 6 magnitude) in the coming week. Makes me grateful to be sleeping in a tent.
In the past few days, the members of our team that was evacuated from Khukondole have been reassigned to other Red Cross teams such as the Norwegian and Japanese field hospitals or have joined our Canadian team in Dhunche. I, myself, have relocated to Dhunche in order to support the team there. The five hour drive from Kathmandu was beautiful, but nerve wracking, as we traversed narrow stretches of road that had only recently been cleared of landslides and the carcasses of trucks that had been caught in them remained as a reminder of the constant danger. My heart was in my mouth several times as our driver eased our jeep past huge, gaily decorated trucks on roads barely wide enough for one, let alone two vehicles. At one point, a cat ran across the road in front of us and I scoffed when my driver stopped and refused to continue until another vehicle passed to break the "bad luck."
Fifteen minutes later, we stopped at an army checkpoint just outside of Dhunche and discovered a van with a smashed windshield. The passengers told us that the driver had been injured by a falling rock from a small landslide and had been transported to our hospital in Dhunche just 5 minutes before we arrived. Suddenly, my driver's superstition didn't seem so silly any more.
Once safely arrived in Dhunche, my first order of business was to set up and organize our medical stores warehouse and pharmacy. I was pleasantly surprised when a group of firefighters from France arrived at our site and offered to help. Many thanks to the Pompiers 54 Népal 2015 for their assistance in setting up in record time!
Our team in Dhunche has worked very hard to re-establish the district hospital that was rendered completely inoperable by the April 25th quake, working side by side with the local staff. It has taken time for word to spread but patients are starting to arrive after long and arduous journeys from distant villages in the valley below. Our patient numbers are increasing daily and mobile clinics are reaching an equal number of patients who are unable to come to us. While much of the population in Dhunche is still living in tents, it is nice to see a semblance of life returning to normal. Children are playing, businesses are reopening and people are smiling and greeting us with "Namaste," as they pass on the street.
Working in such a remote location with very limited resources is challenging and tests our creativity and ingenuity daily, but that's what this type of work is all about. I believe every one of us will return to our jobs and families in Canada with a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation for our blessings, both large and small.
Canadians are encouraged to donate to the Nepal Region Earthquake Fund.