Rotary

The Work of Shelterbox in Nepal

After Nepal’s worst earthquake in 80 years, hospitals in the country’s capital Kathmandu were devastated, forcing medical staff to treat their patients outside with dwindling supplies.

However, ShelterBox, an Initiative of Rotary International, has been able to provide tents to four hospitals in the city creating safe, covered spaces where patients can be treated in privacy. They will be used for carrying out minor operations, changing dressings and as mobile health clinics too.

Phil Duloy, ShelterBox response team member, said: 'Most hospitals in Kathmandu have just been condemned, so we are immediately distributing our pre-positioned stocks in the city to give a space for the medical staff to treat the patients who have been evacuated in the hospital grounds.'

 Fellow response team member and former nurse and midwife Nicola Hinds describes the scene at one of the hospitals. She said: ‘The devastation is enormous. My husband is a GP in Northern Ireland, and it really puts things into perspective about how lucky we are to have the NHS when you see the scene here. People are being treated in the open air with limited resources - the difference is staggering.'

ShelterBox is also sending further aid to Nepal, starting with an initial 500 shelter kits, which can be used to mend structures and create temporary shelters. However, our pre-positioned stocks of equipment in the country meant that the response team was able to start helping people whose lives have been shattered by the earthquake as soon as they arrived in the country. 

 They have aid pre-positioned all around the world to make sure that we can help people in need as soon as possible. Geeta Shrestha, Nursing Director at one of the four hospitals that received our tents, said: ‘From my heart and from my hospital, I thank you.’ 

If you would like to know more about Rotary or our club,
or even just receive our weekly club bulletin, please contact  Andrea.colledge@gmail.com or visit our website at

www.samfordrotary.org.au