History:
It was established in 1966 by Sir Edmund Hillary with the help of the Lions Club of Auckland, New Zealand. The New Zealand Government contributed a limited amount financially to this project. The Himalayan Trust funded, operated and administered the Hospital from 1966 to 1976. The late Dr. Max Pearl was the Medical Officer of the Himalayan Trust, and he coordinated all aspects of the working Hospital with Sir Edmund playing a major part in the administration and funding. In 1975 the late Dr. Pearl and Sir Edmund discussed the funding element of Kunde Hospital with Mr Zeke O’Connor, the founder President of the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation of Canada (SEHF). It was unanimously agreed that the SEHF would fully fund the Kunde Hospital, and on Dr. Pearl’s suggestion, it was agreed that the SEHF would also supply volunteer doctors on an alternating basis for a two-year period. New Zealand appointed doctors had run the Hospital from 1966 to 1976. It took four years to implement the doctor exchange program but the Canadian funding started in 1976. The SEHF approached the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and submitted a project to fully fund the operation of the Kunde Hospital. At that time the Hospital needed refurbishing and an addition to the Hospital plus an extra building to house charcoal, drugs and other supplies. A short time later, twelve medical clinics were established in nearby Solu-Khumbu villages, and in each clinic, village health workers were established. Training of these health workers was undertaken as part of the Kunde doctor’s responsibilities. For more than 30 years, the SEHF has funded and monitored the operation and administration of the Kunde Hospital and appointed eight husband and wife team of doctors, and each year has visited the Hospital. Reports have been submitted to CIDA on an annual basis. In 1991 it was decided by the local people, the Himalayan Trust and the SEHF medical committee to explore the use of midwifery in the Solu Khumbu area. Equipment such as new x-ray machine, biochemistry analyzers, and Oxygen concentrator machines have been added. The hospital has new ultra-sound equipment that was donated to the hospital and put to use. Services:
The Kunde Hospital is available to service about 5 to 8,000 Sherpas living in the Solukhumbu area of Nepal and the 30,000 or more trekkers in the Khumbu (Mount Everest) area. The locals receive services at minimal fees, while foreigners pay certain fees that will be directly used in the operation cost. Services include:
• 24-hour emergency care
• Outpatient clinic
• Inpatient: 15 beds
• Laboratory, X-ray and ultrasound services
• Maternity
• Family Planning, immunization and DOTS for TB: with the help from the Government of Nepal
• Annual Specialist Eye Clinics
• Supervise four health clinics in outlying remote villages – Thame, Phortse, Pangboche, and Monzo
• Water quality check: with the help from Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)
• Other equipment in the hospital are, oxygen concentrator, defibrillator, ECG, nebulizer, slit lamp, and portable hyperbaric chamber (Gamow Bag). Staff:
The Hospital staff from 1966 to 2002 was comprised of two western volunteer doctors and three paid paramedic staff. Kami Temba Sherpa (now Doctor Kami Sherpa) who worked as a paramedic for 20 years at the Kunde Hospital was accepted into the Fiji School of Medicine, University of South Pacific. This was done on a full Scholarship (now known as Mingma Norbu Scholarships) from the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation. After finishing his internship at Patan Hospital in Kathmandu, Dr. Kami Temba returned to Kunde. He is now the Senior Medical Officer and Chief of Medicine at Kunde Hospital. He will continue to have the backup of one local doctor and at times (when he feels it necessary) a foreign volunteer doctor. Other locals who received the Mingma Norbu scholarship and served at the hospital are: Dr. Mingmar Chhering Sherpa, Dr. Tsering Wangdi Sherpa, and Dr. Eliza Bajracharya. Mingma Tsering Sherpa, Mingma Kanchi Sherpa, Tshering Tashi Sherpa, and Lhakpa Thendu Sherpa will join the hospital after completion of their medical studies. Likewise, Tshering Thendu Sherpa trained as a laboratory assistant to work in the hospital. Currently, the hospital is staffed by Dr. Kami Temba Sherpa (senior medical officer and chief of medicine), Dr. Sagar Panthi (medical officer), Mingma Temba Sherpa (senior health worker), Da Yangjee Sherpa (nurse and midwife), Tshering Thendu Sherpa (lab assistant), Mingma Futi Sherpa (cook), and Ang Tsumje Sherpa (cleaner).
*The description is based on the information from the websites of The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation, Canada (http://www.thesiredmundhillaryfoundation.ca/Kunde-Hospital-Update-20.62.0.html) and Himalayan Trust (http://hillaryhimalayantrust.org/service-category/health/); and Dr. Kami Temba Sherpa.
