Dolpa (2023)
Where: Dunai village, Lower Dolpa, Nepal (~2000m altitude).
When: October 2023.
Key numbers: 4 days, 1071 people tested, 350 spectacles provided, 32 patients referred for free cataract surgery.
Key highlights: Over 4 days, SeeNepal was able to provide free eye examinations to 1071 villagers and spectacles to 350 of those in need, including the testing of all pupils and teachers at four entire schools and a local orphanage. During the eye camp, a preliminary list of 32 patients with cataract symptoms was also compiled and referred to undergo free cataract surgery.
SeeNepal’s outreach programme in Dolpa
SeeNepal’s decision to visit the high-altitude region of Dolpa (Nepal’s largest district and one of the most remote) for it’s first official eye camp was as a result of fellow Co-Founders Gaumaya and Deevas Gurung having visited the beautiful yet awfully remote region on a hiking trip in 2018 prior to our previous Gorkha camp. They witnessed first-hand the sheer lack of essential and basic eye healthcare that was available to those villagers living in the region. Therefore, the team knew they could make an impact in Dolpa and provide vital eye care to hundreds of villagers in need by bringing free eye healthcare to them.
In October 2023, following many months of incredible fundraising and support from our generous donors and supporters, SeeNepal Foundation led a multi-day outreach programme in the district of Dolpa and took an experienced team of optometrists, optical experts, dispensing opticians, and many kind-hearted volunteers to the village of Dunai. The team conducted a remarkable eye camp that exceeded all expectations and that has created an enduring impact on the lives of the people in this beautiful yet isolated district.
Extended Outreach: Beyond the Planned Days
Before officially commencing the 3-day eye camp, our team went above and beyond to help those residing in Dunai. With an extra day in-hand, we decided to extend our reach and visited Saraswati Secondary School, which is nestled among the stunning yet remote backdrop of the steep hills that surround Dunai. We were invited to take part in the morning assembly and were fortunate enough to therefore provide and educational speech during the assembly to the pupils to raise awareness around general eye healthcare.
Following the assembly, the SeeNepal team managed to test every single pupil and teacher on-site, totaling over 200 people in what was an incredible rewarding day. This additional day set the tone for an extraordinary outreach project.
Empowering Villagers: By the Numbers
Over the course of four days, our dedicated team conducted free eye examinations for 1071 villagers. For many, this was their first-ever eye examination, and some had traveled great lengths to see us, with one man in particular walking 6 days to reach our eye camp. This incredible journey alone exemplifies the lengths individuals are willing to go for the gift of sight and a chance at a brighter future.
In addition to eye health checks and tests, we provided essential spectacles to 350 individuals, offering clarity where it was needed most. On receiving their new glasses, they shared their sheer joy of being able to read again for the first time in years, to see people's faces at a distance once again, and showered the SeeNepal team with thanks, prayers, gratitude and praise for enabling them to see clearly again having given up hoped of having their vision restored.
Addressing Urgent Cases: Cataract Referrals
During the eye camp, our vigilant team identified 32 patients exhibiting symptoms of cataracts. We took immediate action, compiling a preliminary list of patients and referring them for free cataract surgery. This step is a significant leap toward restoring vision and transforming lives.
Children in Need: Extending Care to Schools and Orphanages
Our commitment to holistic eye care enabled us to test four entire schools of pupils and teachers, as well as a local orphanage, ensuring that young minds could thrive with clear vision and unbridled potential.
Gratitude for Your Support: A Resounding Success
This success story is a direct result of the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, without whom none of this would have been possible.
SeeNepal would like to extend sincere and heartfelt gratitude for your time, dedication, expertise, support, and donations, which have enabled us to extend our reach, transform lives, and provide hope where it's needed most.
Dolpo has felt the positive ripples of your generosity, and together, we've made a lasting impact that echoes far beyond the mountains.
About Dolpa
Dolpo is home to the majestic Phoksundo lake, Shey Gompa - a Bönpo (shamanistic pre-Buddhist) monastery, Crystal Mountain, and the elusive snow leopards. Closed to outsiders until the 1990s, Dolpo is a beautiful, yet remote and isolated district in mid-western Nepal. The region is sparsely populated with ancient Bon-Buddhist sites, nomadic camps and fortified villages where Tibetan culture remains largely unchanged for hundreds of years. Most of the Dolpo region, particularly Upper Dolpo, is still not accessible by road, and require several days of challenging hikes.
The people of Dolpo are largely isolated from the rest of Nepal, often forgotten about and lack access to essential and basic healthcare services and facilities, the nearest mode of transport out of the region at last one week of hiking away for most due to the lack of infrastructure in the region.