FigTree Header 10.14

 

Search The Fig Tree's stories of people who make a difference:

Ganesh Himal plans to rebuild clinic it built in Nepal

 

Baseri Clinic, Nepal
Chunta Nepali of Ganesh Himal in Nepal, Denise Attwood, Martha Newell of Missoula and Austin Zimmerman at the Baseri clinic.

Denise Attwood and Ric Conner of Ganesh Himal Trading Company in Spokane, which has worked with artists and craftspeople in Nepal for 30 years, have connected with their 15 fair trade groups and the clinic they helped build in areas near the epicenter of the 7.9 earthquake April 25 in the Dhading region of Nepal.

As of May 1, they had heard from 14 of the groups.  Some of their  homes are badly damaged, but they are safe.

Five weeks before the quake, they had been in Nepal, visiting a clinic in the village of Dhadaguan, Baseri, 25 miles from the epicenter.  Five years ago, they built the clinic and trained medical staff.

Talking by cell phone, their friend Sita said, “It took three years to build the clinic and three seconds for it to be destroyed.”

All the buildings in that village have been destroyed, Denise said, but the clinic could be staging ground in international relief.

“Although the main building of the clinic was destroyed, another section, containing medical supplies and some shelter is still intact,” she said.  “The clinic’s physicians assistant and a former army medic have escaped injury and are helping local residents.”

In addition, there is an open level area—unusual in the region—that could be used as a helicopter landing zone.

About 7,000 people, many elderly and children live in the Baseri region.  It is the northern most settlement in that section of Nepal, about 25 miles from the epicenter, Denise said. 

“People seeking medical care will likely go to the clinic, so it could serve as a staging area for medical assistance,” she said.

“We have been committed to the welfare of people in Nepal and welcome the opportunity to help through our clinic,” she wrote to international relief agencies.

“We can also help them because we have extensive local knowledge of villages there that can help pinpoint needs,” she said.

“No one in that village was killed, but people in the area need food and shelter.  It’s raining and they are living outdoors,” she said. 

Meanwhile, through their recently founded nonprofit, Conscious Connections, Denise and Ric are raising funds on the Ganesh Himal website.  As of April 30, they had collected more than $20,000.  They estimate it will take $35,000 to rebuild and help families rebuild.

“We have not heard from some dear friends,” she said, noting that cell phones are working, but batteries are low.  “One producer said she and her workers were all alive, and their facility was okay, so they can go back to work once workers return from checking on family closer to the epicenter.”

Ric and Denise have learned that the women paper producers, staff of the Association for Craft Producers and CBA Handicrafts producers are safe.  They await hearing from many more.

This is not the first tragedy they have helped their Nepali friends through.  They also stood by them to help during the civil war that lasted from 1996 to 2007.

“I was just there and felt that finally the people had hope,” said Denise.  “I cannot imagine how they will continue, but I know their resilience will help them.  They are amazingly strong.”

Ganesh Himal Trading received a major shipment in early April, so they have enough to sell to retail outlets while producers rebuild.

“Now they are in a survival mode, and we appreciate your thoughts, prayers and love,” she said.  “We will collect money and find partner organizations that can deliver supplies to the area.”

She anticipates rebuilding the clinic and finding resources to keep its programs alive.

“Our first step is to get relief in so people survive,” she said.

Commenting on the donations that have already come, Denise said, “I am struck by how beautiful humanity is.”

For information, call 499-3320 or visit ganeshhimaltrading.com.



Copyright © May 2015 - The Fig Tree