After Earthquake Medical Tour Kathmandu 2015-06

Lhundrup Choling, Monastery of Sang Sang Rinpoche in Bhudhanilkantha/Nepal

Questionnaire. Lhundrup Choling Kagyu Monastery, Bhudhanilkantha
Director: Sang Sang Rinpoche.

- no fatalities or injuries during the earthquake

Number of inhabitants: 38 monks and 8 employees are living in the monastery.

Medical and social conditions:

The monastery is equipped with a doctor’s consultation room. Every one to two weeks, the Himalayan Medical Foundation sends a doctor to examine and treat the monks. The medication is partially provided by the doctor and partially bought by the monks themselves. All are vaccinated and nobody is suffering from severe illness.

The monastery receives annual funds from the KHCP for health care.

• Dr. Sonam´s screening...

• ... and medical teachings

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Building condition:

The building is mostly intact, at least not severely damaged. The exception is one room in the attic that has to be torn down and rebuilt.

Other:

When offered help, the monastery said that they didn’t require any but the second monastery from Sang Sang Rinpoche (Lundhrup Choeling Monastery in Eastern Nepal) and the nun’s retreat centre (Chokhor Yangtse Nunnery Retreat Centre) have been severely damaged.

The KHCP will contact Sang Sang Rinpoche to inquire about how we can provide help. We have put €7,000 aside for this. The monks wish to continue the collaboration with the KHCP

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Karma Ngedhon Osal Chokhorling, Hasantar Nunnery

Questionnaire.Karma Ngedhon Osal Chokhorling - Hasantar Nunnery Director: Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche
- no fatalities or injuries during the earthquake
Number of Inhabitants:
approx. 80 nuns live there (we couldn’t find a more specific number, Dr. Sonam spoke of 87 nuns).
39 nuns and 3 employees (the chief and his wife as well as the night guard) attended the check-up.

Medical Condition:
The nuns are generally in good health but are all suffering from iron deficiency. Dr. Sonam and Dr. Angelika suspected that this has been caused by a worm infection. An elderly nun was found to be suffering from gallstones, but is afraid to have them surgically removed. As her condition is currently not life threatening and she should not be forced to undergo the procedure. The nuns are insufficiently vaccinated. The younger nuns are to be vaccinated. Dr. Sonam will be in charge of this.
Medical care is provided. The nuns asked for a regular provision of hygiene products, which will be covered by the KHCP budget. Cancer screenings are currently planned. Water is being inspected for infestation of parasites.

Damages to the Building:
In the morning we drove to Hasantar Nunnery. On the way we saw damage even more severe than in the city of Kathmandu. In some of the streets half of the buildings are either collapsed or severely damaged. Clearing and rebuilding work is being carried out everywhere. The earthquake severely damaged three of the living areas of the nunnery. They are in danger of collapsing.

Living conditions:
The nuns have spent most time after the earthquake in tents, but some tell us that they have started to sleep again in the damaged rooms as snakes often slither into the tents at night. They could also hear the tigers from the adjacent jungle roaring at night. Apparently, the fear of the unsecured building is less than the fear of the animals. (The fact that snakes are indeed a problem is something we have also been told by friends in Kathmandu who are also forced to sleep in tents).

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Other aspects impacting on the nunnery:
The buildings of the four employees of the nunnery have been completely destroyed. The KHCP provided €2,000 emergency relief for the restructuring of the buildings, and we will soon receive photos of how the money was used.
According to the Anis, up to 300 people live in the surrounding area of the nunnery, many of whose buildings have collapsed or are severely damaged to the extent that they are uninhabitable.
The KHCP donated €20,000 for health care and €10,000 for building damage to Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche. The nuns receive the funds proportionally.

Shree Karma Raja Maha Vihar Swayambhu in Kathmandu/Nepal (leaded by Sabchu Rinpoche)

Shri Karma Raja Maha Vihar Monastery is a main seat of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa in Nepal.
The building had been collapsed totally by the earthquake. The rebuilding project has been started by removing the ruins.

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Karma Tharjay Chokorling Kadgyupa Monastery in Boudha

Questionnaire. Karma Tharjay Chokorling Kadgyupa Monastery in Boudha
Director: Beru Khyentse Rinpoche
- no fatalities or injuries during the earthquake
Number of inhabitants:
Normally, 45 monks live in the monastery, but most of them are currently in Bodhgaya. Only Lama Pasang and two monks are currently living there. There are two employees: a chef and a cleaner.
Medical and social conditions:
A monk is severely ill, suffering from tuberculosis and hepatitis. The KHCP provided €3,000 to cover cost of his treatment. For 6 weeks he has been in the care of Dhulikhel Hospital.
Another monk who was also suffering from tuberculosis was treated successfully. He only has to attend a follow-up examination in Dhulikhel.
The monastery receives an annual health care fund by the KHCP. Except for this, it is hard- pressed for money, as it is only financed by Beru Khyentse Rinpoche.
Building conditions:
The monastery is quite badly damaged but, according to engineers, it is possible to repair it. The roof has completely collapsed.
Other:
Lama Pasang is looking forward to the next KHCP Medicalcamp once the monks have returned from Bodhgaya. Dr. Sonam will be in charge of this. Laypeople from the surrounding areas can also attend the camp to be examined and treated. The monks are looking forward to a continuing collaboration with the KHCP in the future.
The KHCP provides €7,000 for health care and rebuilding work, and an additional €3,000 for treatments in Ohm Hospital.

Sharminub Foundation of Shamar Rinpoche

Questionnaire. Sharminub Retreat Center
Director:
Shamar Rinpoche’s new monastery with retreat area, currently managed by Jigme Rinpoche and Tsering Dhondup
- no fatalities or injuries during the earthquake
Number of inhabitants:

The large building is currently used as a refuge for people from badly affected areas, including monks from Swayambhu where the monastery was completely destroyed. The monks will return once the reconstruction work is completed. The monks who were on retreat also survived the earthquake well!

Medical and social conditions:
Jill is part of the administration team and described the situation. She reports that the earthquake has left many traumatised. She brings in a boy (name: Surya Bdr. Waiba, aged 15), who has heart problems. He suffered from rheumatic fever which caused damage to his cardiac valve. He is in urgent need of surgery, which will cost approximately 1 million rupees (€ 10.000). Only half of the money he requires is covered by the state hospital Gangale, the only hospital equipped to conduct such surgery. The remaining 500,000 rupees have to be raised through donations. The boy is accompanied by Sabchu Rinpoche.
If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with the KHCP. Dr. Sonam of Dhulikhel is trying to find other ways to raise the money.
Dr. Sonam and Jill are trying to provide first aid kits.
Building conditions:

There is very little damage to the construction site. The retreat centre also remains mostly undamaged.
Other:

The Karmapa-ShamarNag Committee, which is currently residing here, receives €20,000 from the KHCP for emergency relief for those rural areas that are affected by the earthquake. It is worth mentioning that the villagers were given materials and building instructions for shelters, to accommodate them during the monsoon period. One shelter for one family costs only 4,000 rupees (about 40€), as only local materials are used. Even small donations can be put to great use here.

• Works meeting

• heart problems

• Some of the minor damages

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• Screenings by Dr. Angelika

• Teachings by Dr. Sonam

Sangey Choling Monastery of Lopön Tsechu Rinpoche in Swayambhu/Kathmandu

Questionnaire. Sangey Choeling Monastery in Kimdol / Kathmandu
Director: Lopön Tsechu Rinpoche
- no fatalities or injuries during the earthquake
Number of Inhabitants: Approximately 100 monks, a few nuns and 8 employees live in the monastery.

Medical conditions:

It was the first time the KHCP visited this site and we will try to integrate the monastery into the KHCP in the future.
Almost all of the young monks have bad teeth, fungal infections on the head and other parts of the body, as well as problems with basic hygiene. They have no regular medical care provision and there appears to be a lack of responsibility taken to address this. Several acute and chronic illnesses were diagnosed.
Starting immediately, all affected can be treated in Dhulikel Hospital.
Altogether, 42 people were examined. KHCP physician, Dr. Sonam taught the young monks about healthcare and dental hygiene and they were given medication to treat their worm infections. He will also take care of the monks’ vaccinations and organise a visit of a team of dentists from Dhulikhel.

Building conditions:
Only minor damages to the monastery. The Gompa is affected. An engineer has not visited the site yet to evaluate the safety of the building. For this reason, the monks are currently using the dining room for their pujas.
Out of fear, the monks are sleeping in tents.
The Sangey Choeling Monastery will receive €7,000 to cover the costs of health care and rebuilding.