Rajan Pokhrel

Lukla, May 28:

A Swiss woman who has been suffering from paralysis for the last eleven years and can move only with the help of a wheelchair has helped build a well-equipped hospital in Lukla of Solukhumbu district. Nicole Niquille, 48, provided Rs 20 million, which she had received as health insurance from the Swiss government, to construct the 13-bed community hospital — Pasang Lhamu Nicole Hospital — in Chaurikhark VDC. The amount was made available through the Foundation Nicole Niquille (FNN). The management of the hospital is now being supervised by the Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Foundation (PLMF), according to Bachchu Narayan Shrestha of the PLMF. The project began in 2003. Though it will be formally inaugurated in October, the hospital has already started providing services to the people, said Dr Nawangelgen Sherpa.

The hospital will benefit nearly 7,000 people of Chaurikhark, Jubing and Waku VDCs, Shrestha said. The hospital will also provide expert services on maternity and child health care, Dr Alain Kulvers, who came from Switzerland to work as a volunteer, said. At present, the hospital has three foreigners and three Nepali medical staff. According to Dr Alain, Nicole was the first mountain guide in Switzerland. She was paralysed in 1994 after a stone hit her on the head. After the incident, Nicole decided to contribute to build a hospital after Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to conquer Mt Everest, died before she could realise her dream to work in the health sector in Solukhumbu. Nicole has made over 15 visits to Nepal and is expected to attend the inauguration of the hospital. Himalayan Club had provided three ropanis of land for the hospital, Funuru Sherpa, president of the club, said. Only two hospitals — one in Namche and another in Faplu — were in operation in Solukhumbu before this hospital came into operation.