Tibetan Health April to July 2013
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TIBETAN HEALTH APRIL TO JULY 2013 Department of Health, CTA and John Hopkins University Started a About Us Hepatitis B Pilot Project in Bylakuppe Tibetan Health is the official Newsletter of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Depart- ment of Health (Tibetan Voluntary Health As- sociation). DOH (TVHA) is responsible for overall public health promotion and medical The Depart- care service of over 120,000 Tibetan refugees ment of Health in India, Nepal and Bhutan. has started a The health department manages and finances 54 health centers in India and Nepal including Hepatitis B Ngoenga School for Tibetan refugee children pilot project with special needs (www.ngoengaschool.org) apart from different health programs, proj- in Bylakuppe ects, and activities. Tibetan settle- Tibetan Health Newsletter is published two to four times a year to inform and update about ments in col- our health promoting initiatives to our friends, l a b o r a t i o n donors and supporters. This newsletter also gives you an overview of health programs, with the John projects, activities and needs of the Depart- ment. Most importantly, it covers success Hopkins Uni- stories and outstanding contribution of all our versity. From field health staffs including hospital adminis- trators, doctors, nurses and community health July to Octo- workers etc. This newsletter is dedicated to them, for their selfless dedication and hard- ber 2013, Johns Hopkins University worked with nurses from Tso Jhe work, which are the backbone of this success- ful and unique refugee healthcare system. Khangsar Hospital, Bylakuppe, in collaboration with the Department of Health, CTA to implement a study of Hepatitis B in Bylakuppe Tibetan Health is distributed free to all who are interested in the works of the Tibetan De- Tibetan settlements, Karnataka. Approximately 3000 participants in- partment of Health. cluding students, monks and lay people were chosen for this study and Advisor: voluntarily underwent blood testing for Hepatitis B infection. Dr. Tsering Wangchuk The findings from this project will estimate the current rate of (Health Kalon) Mr. Sonam Choephel Shosur Hepatitis B infection within the Tibetan community. It will provide (Health Secretary) important information about the number of people who may benefit Edited by: from vaccination, as well as the proportion of Hepatitis B- infected Mr. Tsegyal Dranyi population that may benefit from medical treatment for Hepatitis B. Mr. Thutop Namgyal Further, it will also provide information about the current treatment Mrs. Trinley Palmo Ms. Tenzin Tseyang regimen people seek out for Hepatitis B. It is the hope that findings from this study will facilitate implementation of a Hepatitis B treat- Compiled, Layout and Designed by: ment plan in the Tibetan community in the near future. Ms. Tashi Yangzom From July 15 to 27, the study coordinators from Johns Hopkins You can also contact: University worked with Department’s Tso Jhe Khangsar Hospital, By- lakuppe to begin implementation of the study plan. Several meetings Department of Health (Tibetan Voluntary Health Association) were held with local settlement officers, village coordinators, school Central Tibetan Administration, officials, and monastery officials to discuss the goals of the study and Dharamsala, Distt Kangra (HP) INDIA 176215 plans for implementation. Additionally, they gave a series of health Tel: 0091-1892-223408 / 223486 awareness talks at Lugsam and Dickyi Larsoe Tibetan settlements in Fax: 0091-1892-222718 Email: [email protected] Bylakuppe. The implementation of Hepatitis B testing as part of this Website-www.tibet.net/health project continued from the month of August till October, 2013. Correction News CONTENTS Department of Health and John Hopkins University begins We apologize for our mistake of incorrect pic- a Hepatitis B pilot project in Bylakuppe 1 ture in our October to March 2013 Newsletter Administrative News 2 edition. Below is the corrected picture of Water Health Kalon’s Official Tour 3 Free Medical Camp 4 and Sanitation projects. Training News 4 Health Program News 6 Other Activities 7 Bir Public Toilet Renovation Picture! Health Education Event Held in Various Settlements 8 Volunteer Experience 13 Incorrect Correct Health Kalon’s Statement on Hepatitis B 14 Publication News 14 Tuting Clinic Feature 14 List of Donors 15 Department and TVHA Staff Update 18 Water and Sanitation Project 19 How You Can Help Tibetan Health Department 20 Administrative News: Profiles of new staffs situated in remote eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Being very remote, there is no school Dr. Tenzin Dechen takes charge at Bir Pri- in Tuting. So, she studied at CST Chauntra in mary Health Center Himachal Pradesh. After completing her school- ing from CST Chauntra and CST Mussorie in science stream, she joined Sri Venkateswara college of Nursing, Kakinda in Andhra Pradesh for further studies. She graduated in January 2013 and was appointed as a staff nurse in Tuting health center in the month of July 2013. Meanwhile, she is working in PHC Miao for more practical train- ing and expressing deep satisfaction at Miao, She said, “All staff in PHC Miao are well ex- perienced and they are available for the com- munity people all the time regardless of their Dr. Tenzin Dechen took charge as the Medical Of- working scheduled. They are sharing their ex- ficer of Tibetan Primary Health Center Bir from periences to me and guiding me in every work. May 2013. She is basically from Bir Tibetan settle- I have learnt a lot from the interactions with the ment and did her schooling from CST Mussoorie local community”. She got an opportunity to at- and MBBS degree from Indra Gandhi Medical tend a public health workshop in Dharamsala College, Shimla. and another mental health workshop in Delhi. She expressed that, it has been four months since she joined TPHC Bir and her experience has been very satisfying and rewarding. She thanked Tibetan Voluntary Health Association and Central Tibetan Administration for this opportunity. Appointment of B. Sc Nurse at Tuting Health Center B.Sc Nurse Sonam Lhamo was appointed as a staff nurse at Tuting. She was born in Tuting settlement 2 Tibetan Health-TVHA Health Kalon’s Official Tour proach to seek genuine autonomy in Tibet. He also inspected the health conditions of Tibetans Health Kalon Met the Secretaries of Medi- in Kollegal where there is no access of doctor. cal Education and Health & Family Welfare He also shared words with the families of the stu- Department of Karnataka States dents who are pursuing MBBS. Kalon Dr. Tsering Wangchuk met with Mr. K.H. Health Kalon Met with the Tibetan Medical Govindraj, the secretary of the Department of Students in Bikaner Medical Education and Mr. Madan Mohan, the Health Kalon met with the Principal of Bikaner secretary of the Health & Family Welfare of State Medical College, Dr. Kailash Chandra Nayak to & National Rural Health Mission in Bangalore. discuss opportunities for further collaborations He requested them to consider providing state and a private meeting with Tibetan medical stu- government health care program for TB and the dents. He emphasized the significance of serving rural health benefits for the Tibetan settlements Tibetan communities to the medical student. within the state. In addition, he also reiterated the request Health Kalon Assessed Telemedicine Feasi- made by Sikyong to the Chief Minister last year bility in Odisha and Bandhara to facilitate reserve seats for MBBS and M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) for Tibetan students. Health Kalon visited Tibetan settlements in Cen- At Tibetan youth hostal in Bangalore, he tral India viz; Odisha, Mainpat and Bandhara from gave an exclusive talk to the MBBS and engi- June 22 to July 6 respectively. The visit aimed neering aspirants from TCV Bylakuppe and CST to monitor the ongoing Telemedicine project at Mundgod doing NEET and CET training under Mainpat, and to analyze and review the feasibil- the auspices of Education Department. He vis- ity of introducing Telemedicine project in Odisha ited Neelamangala vocational training centre, and Bandhara. Tele Radiology, Vittala International Institute for He monitored the implementation of vari- Ophthalmology, Teleradiology and Tibet Mall in ous healthcare programs and explained the Ti- Bangalore. betan Medicare System. Moreover, he addressed Health Kalon visited Tibetan Settlement in South India. Health Kalon visited the Tibetan settlements and monasteries in south India from April 5 to 25. He spoke to the Tibetan people at Kollegal, Hunsur, Bylakuppe and Mundgod settlements on the three key guiding principles of the present Kashag. He emphasized on the importance of education among Tibetans in exile and the Middle Way Ap- Tibetan Health-TVHA 3 the public on the three key guiding principles of including the school children. Additionally, about the present Kashag, especially in terms of edu- 311 people were provided dental screening and cation of Tibetans in exile and the Middle Way treatment. Approach to seek genuine autonomy in Tibet. He The Department organized a similar oral also inspected the health conditions of Tibetans health awareness and screening program at Ti- in the three settlements and reviewed health re- betan Children Village Schools in Dharamsala lated projects. namely Upper TCV, Lower TCV and TCV Go- Moreover, he requested the head officials palpur from April 22 to May 2, 2013. Dr. Tenzin of the Behrampur and Ambhikapur Hospitals to Dadul, an oral cancer specialist from Madras, and facilitate health care program and health facilities Tenzin Dechen, a registered nurse from USA, to the Tibetan settlements in their states. He also carried out this program on behalf of Department talked about offering reserved nursing seats for of Health. A total of about 3052 students and the Tibetan students and refresher courses for our staffs of three TCV schools have benefitted from community health workers. this program which mainly focused on preven- tion and early detection of oral cancer.