Coordinating Efforts to Strengthen Medical Care in Nepal
Annual Conference, June 12-13, 1999
University of Illinois, Chicago
1999 Conference Report
America
Nepal Medical Foundation (ANMF) successfully held its third annual
convention on June 12-13 at University of Illinois, Chicago, USA. It
was attended by about fifty participants representing various medical
organizations in the United States, American physicians and other
volunteers who have worked in Nepal, and Nepalese physicians who are
currently in the United States. The participants came from all over
the country, from Rhode Island to California. One of the participants,
Dr. S. K. Rai, represented Nepal with the kind support of Interplast,
USA. The theme of the conference this year was - "Coordinating Efforts
to Strengthen Medical Care in Nepal".
His Excellency D. P. Gautam, Nepalese ambassador to USA, also graced
the occasion by his heartfelt plea that, "Wherever you are, just keep
a flicker of love to your country." Keynote speaker Dennis Brimhall,
President, University Hospital, University of Colorado, Denver,
illustrated how a small effort in cutting down the extravaganza in one
U.S. hospital can generate an amount almost enough to run the entire
health care system of Nepal. He also praised the hardworking Nepalese
physicians who he said seemed to be happy with what little facilities
they had.
Besides Dr. David Dingman from Interplast, Nancy Blum from U.S.
Pharmacopia, Donald Copley from Buffalo, New York, Brendan Thomson
from Arizona Nepal Medical Society, Shyam Karki from Rochester, New
York, and Dr. Maheswor Baidhya from United Hands to Nepal also
presented their work in Nepal. The ANMF Board Chairman Dr. Donald
Blair presented the experience of ANMF gained from organising its
first CME in Nepal. Dr. S. K. Rai gave his views from the Nepalese
perspective.
ANMF was founded three years ago by the joint efforts of American and
Nepalese physicians, and other volunteers who were interested to help
improve the health care system of Nepal. The foundation has been
sending books and journals to the medical school library in Nepal, and
useful equipments to Nepalese hospitals. It also organized a CME
(continuing medical education) program for Nepalese physicians in
Nepal last fall, and plans to do it every year. Dr. Gaury Adhikari is
the current president of ANMF. You can visit ANMF on the internet at
http://www.anmf.net.