LUKLA, NOVEMBER 24

With the opening of a modern hospital in Phakding of the Everest region, locals and tourists visiting the region have started getting medical services.

'Himalayan Sherpa Hospital has been offering outpatient department and emergency services to those in need,' Pasang Sherpa, chief medical officer at the hospital, said. The 15-bed hospital was inaugurated by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari earlier this month.

Dr Matthias Baumann, president of the Sherpa Nepalhilfe Germany, said that Himalayan Sherpa Hospital was a German-Nepal Cooperation Project, while Sherpa Nepalhilfe and Himalayan Sherpa Foundation would run the hospital together.

As chief doctor for orthopaedic surgery in a German University Hospital and also doctor of the German Olympic Team, Matthias led the campaign in Germany and abroad to collect fund for the hospital project.

'We were able to collect fund under Sherpa Nepalhilfe Germany to build and run the Himalayan Sherpa Hospital,' Matthias shared.

Matthias, who also offered support to the Nepali community through Sherpa Nepalhilfe after the avalanche at Mount Everest in 2014 and during the post- 2015 earthquake reconstruction, also thanked donors and well-wishers for supporting a noble project in the Everest region.

According to HSF, the hospital provides X-ray and ultrasound facilities with maternity care and mountain medicine services. It is in the process of installing ventilators and oxygen plant. The hospital, which was built at a cost of Rs 200 million, now has a medical doctor, two nurses, lab technician and health assistant.

Phakding has a high density of people as this area and route falls on the main trail to the Everest region. Trekkers generally spend their first night in Phakding as it helps in the acclimatization process. Phakding consists of sub-villages like Tok- Tok, Jamphute, Nombuwa-Teng, Rimijung, Gumela, Chermading, Ghat, Lhowa, Sengma, Benkar, Monjo, Chumo and Jorsalle.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 25, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.