It's D-10: Let's meet the team...

As the countdown has officially begun before we fly off to Nepal, we thought we'd give you a little taster of the team, give you a chance to meet those of us who are about to trek into more snow than Heathrow has ever seen and understand why we've all decided to assist DFN on this mission.

First up, Rebecca Brady, our wonderful midwife from St Mary's. And this is what she's got to say for herself....

Well, Kate completely blindsided me into this trip, pure and simple! No, it was definately the other way round...;) and Im very grateful and honoured to be part of it.  I've always wanted to go to Nepal and recently completed a Diploma in Tropical Nursing at the LSHTM and felt ready for a challenge in all aspects....Six day trek being one of them!

This DFN trip presented a fantastic opportunity to learn more about family planning and experience working within a resource poor setting, and experience the local culture of Nepal on a completely different level.  As well, to see what great work DFN has done to train and retain local medics to support and enrich their communities; and combined with how important this health needs assessment is in helping to empower women and their families with the aim to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Nepal through accessible chosen contraception. 

Namaste!

Next please!

Target exploded for DFN's Christmas fundraiser

Despite the meters of snow and by popular demand, a proud reminder of our renowned British stoicism, nothing could stop our Doctors For Nepal’s Christmas fundraiser from going ahead last Thursday, 02
December.

50 intrepid supporters of Doctors for Nepal braved the ice and cold for a night of delicious food, magical Nepalese music and a raucous auction majestically led by Joanna Yarrow and the whole night perfectly hosted by The Great Nepalese restaurant.

From anti-wrinkles Botox treatment, B&Bs, green gyms, photo sessions, through to beautiful handmade crockery, Manchester United football tickets and a DFN trustee himself, our auction and raffle left no-one empty handed, with bids and donations flowing as generously as did the wine.

Thanks to the lively and generous support, we are very pleased to announce that we raised an excess of £3600! All the money raised will go directly towards funding part of our next student tuition fees in April. The rest will allow us to undertake the healthcare needs assessment we are carrying out in January.

A word of thanks from our Kate Yarrow, our Chairman of Trustees:

“We truly appreciate the effort that everyone went to, especially given the unfavourable weather conditions, and hope that everyone made it home safely- and have recovered from the sore heads!

On January 2nd we are off to Nepal to set up the family planning project: your continued support is much needed, so stay tuned with our website and blog, spread the word to your friends and colleagues, and if possible- keep up your amazing financial support.

Huge thanks once again”

Thank you to all our generous supporters who donated our auction prizes:

 Chris & Anne Yarrow    Jim & Dominique Keeling    Nick & Lyn Wiseman    Luisa Bramao-Ramos    Tnisha Johnson    Dr Christine Coffey    Andy & Alicia Milne    Boris    The Great Nepalese                Wilderness Wood    Whichford Pottery    Frizzante Ltd     Giffords Circus     Beyond Green        

Welcome to Doctors for Nepal's Blog

In January 2011, Dr Kate Yarrow, Founder and Chairman of Trustees for Doctors for Nepal (DFN) will be setting off for a month-long trip to Kalikot, Nepal after a brief stint in Kathmandu. She will be accompanied by 5 other intrepid travellers, Anne & Chris Yarrow (her parents), Maia (her cousin), Christine (DFN's intern) and Becky (a midwife from St Mary's).

The aim of this trip is to establish a DFN scholarship with the newly founded Patan Academy of Health Sciences. This new medical college in Kathmandu has the specific aim of training doctors for rural areas of Nepal, objectives which chime exactly with those of DFN.
Furthermore, following our desire to extend our activities, we are hoping to set up clinical services, such as a DFN family planning programme to support local initiatives already in place and further help our sponsored students in their medical practice. In light of this, the second part of the trip will comprise a trek through the snow covered mountains to carry out a health needs assessment in the Kalikot region, the far wild wild West of Nepal. 

Through this blog, we will be mapping our team's progress both leading up to and during the trip itself. Prior to departure, we will be posting brief updates on the meetings preparation with the Nepalese Department of Health and the Patan Academy in Kathmandu, mapping our route, as well as checking up on our team's fundraising efforts and physical preparation.
Once we are out there, this blog will also enable us to relay back from Nepal (notwithstanding the slight delay, due to low WIFI availability up snowy Nepalese mountains).

Let the adventure begin!