Tibetan Health Newsletterjuly-December 2016
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TIBETAN HEALTH July to December 2016 USAID Awards letter of Appreciation to Tibetan Medicare System, About Us Department of Health, CTA. Tibetan Health is the official Newsletter of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Health (Tibetan Voluntary Health Association). DOH (TVHA) is responsible for overall public health promotion and medical care service of over 120,000 Tibetan refugees in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The health department manages and finances 50 health centers in India and Nepal including Ngoenga School for Tibetan refugee children with special needs (www.ngoengaschool.org) apart from different health programs, projects, and activities. Tibetan Health Newsletter is published two to four times a year to inform and update about our health promoting initiatives to our friends, donors and supporters. This newsletter also gives you an overview of health programs, projects, activities and needs of the department. Most importantly, it covers success stories and On 8th August 2016, USAID awarded a Certificate of Appreciation outstanding contributions of all our field health staffs including hospital administrators, doc- to the Tibetan Medicare System (TMS) team of the Department of tors, nurses and community health workers etc. Health, CTA, for its effective and efficient management of funds and This newsletter is dedicated to them, for their selfless dedication and hardwork, which are the implementation of TMS Projects. The Certificate was presented by Mr. backbone of this successful and unique refugee Jonathan Addleton, Mission Director of USAID to India, at a ceremony healthcare system. held at Nyatri Hall, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala. Mr. Addleton Tibetan Health is distributed free to all who are said that the certificate is recognition of the quality health service be- interested in the works of the Tibetan Depart- ment of Health. ing provided by the health department, and reaffirmed USAID’s deep commitment to helping the Tibetan community improve their educa- Advisor: Mr. Choekyong Wangchuk (Health kalon) tion and economic well-being, as well as their health status. Mr. Tsegyal Dranyi (Health Secretary) Edited by: At the event, Health Kalon Mr. Choekyong Wangchuk delivered a Mrs. Yeshi Wangmo brief introduction to the Department of Health and its various projects. Ms. Tenzin Kunsang Ms. Tenzin Tseten (Tibetcorp) He emphasised the importance of preventive healthcare initiatives to enhance the overall Tibetan public health. Compiled, Layout and Designed by: Mrs. Tashi Yangzom In his address, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay thanked the USAID for You can also contact: Department of Health their continued assistance and affirmed that the certificate of appre- (Tibetan Voluntary Health Association) ciation would further inspire the staff to work harder. This is the first Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala, Distt Kangra (HP) such token of appreciation that the Central Tibetan Administration has INDIA 176215 received from a foreign organization. Moreover, said the Sikyong, to Tel: 0091-1892-223408 / 223486 Fax: 0091-1892-222718 receive the Certificate of Appreciation from a person of the stature of Email: [email protected] Ambassador Jonathan Addleton means so much to the CTA as a whole Website: www.tibetanhealth.org www.tibet.net/health and particularly to the health department. 3 CONTENTS USAID Awards letter of Appreciation to TMS 1 Administrative News 2 Health Programs 3 Training News 8 News from the field Health Centers 16 Dept. and TVHA Staff Update 29 Volunteer Information Corner 31 TMS invites New Enrollment for Medical Insurance 32 How You Can Help Tibetan Health Department 34 Bali himself; the Chief Parliamentary Secretary; and MD Himachal Road Transport and MLAs. Our Health Kalon was honoured as the Chief Guest and was given warm felicitations by Shri G. S. Bali. In the public address, the honourable Health Ka- lon on behalf of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay extended hearty wishes to Shri G. S. Bali on his birthday, and lauded his services to the needy people in the region in providing such medical ADMINISTRATION NEWS: help. He further expressed appreciation of Shri G. S. Bali’s support and relationship with the Ti- Health Kalon Attends Medical Camp cum Festi- betan people living in this region. val at Nagrota Bhavan, Kangra At the end, Shri G. S. Bali presented a memento A group of Department of Health senior staff at- to all the guests and gave a valedictory address. tended the Multispecialty Medical Camp cum Children’s Festival at Gandhi Ground, Nagrota Health Kalon and Deputy Speaker Meet Minis- Bhawan, Kangra, on 27th July 2016. The delega- ter of State for AYUSH tion was led by Health Kalon Mr. Choekyong Wangchuk along with Mr. Dawa Phunkyi, Tibetan Health Kalon Mr Choekyong Wangchuk, along Parliament-in-Exile Member and Director, Tibetan with a delegation from the Tibetan Parliament- Delek Hospital. in-Exile (TPiE) led by Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, met Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, This annual event combining the medical camp the Minister of State for Ayurveda, Yoga and with the children’s festival coincides with the Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy birthday celebration of Shri G. S. Bali, who is (AYUSH), on 22nd November 2016. Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Min- ister in the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Thousands of people from in and around Nagrota gathered at the event, where not only medical ex- aminations in different disciplines were conducted but also equipment like eye glasses, hearing-aids and walking sticks were distributed. Eminent figures present at the formal function in- cluded Shri Suraj Singh Pathania, MPP and Power Minister in the Himachal Government; Shri G. S. 2 Tibetan Health-TVHA 3 Health Kalon appealed the Ministry of AYUSH PRM benefitted more than 600 children in these to develop efforts towards preservation and pro- remote regions. motion of Sowa-Rigpa, the Tibetan Medical Sys- tem. He briefly introduced the Central Council Detail Miao Tezu Tenzingang Total of Tibetan Medicine (CCTM), and delegation Total student 315 94 212 621 members, who included members of Tibetan screened parliament, Lopoen Thupten Gyaltsen and Mr. Extraction 18 13 59 65 Kunchok Yarphel, Ms. Tenzin Choedon, Joint Filling 249 15 34 323 Secretary of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) Scaling 2 8 14 24 and Dr. Tsering Tsamchoe, General Secretary of OH Score Central Council of Tibetan Medicine (CCTM). 56 38 86 180 The Tibetan Parliament delegation also apprised the Minister and Indian leaders on the wave of Department of Health Marks World Hepatitis Day Tibetan self-immolation protests since 2009 and with Public Awareness Talk and Free Test Camp the deteriorating political situation inside Tibet. World Hepatitis Day – Know hepatitis – Act now The Minister expressed his strong support for the Tibetan cause and vowed to fulfil the appeal. On World Hepatitis Day, 28th July 2016, the world Health Organisation (WHO) calls on pol- HEALTH PROGRAMS: icy makers, health workers and public to “Know hepatitis – Act now”. Oral Health Program From 1st– An awareness talk was organized by Department 21st July of Health, in collaboration with Kunphen centre 2016, Mr. at Norbulinka, to observe World Hepatitis Day, R i n c h e n , on the previous day, 27th July 2016. The talk was the Dental given by Dr. Rigzin Sangmo, Head of Research Therapist and Development Department of Tibetan Medical from Miao and Astro Institute (TMAI), and Dr. Tenzin Desel H e a l t h from Delek Hospital, Dharamsala. The audience Center car- was informed about the mode of transmission of ried out free disease, preventive measures to be adopted and dental edu- the treatment modalities that are available. cation and screening On 28th July, awareness talks were held for the as well as emergency treatment for children in the public of McLeod Ganj, given by Dr. Rigzin Tibetan settlements Miao, Tezu and Tenzingang Sangmo from TMAI and Dr. Sonam Topgyal in Arunachal Pradesh. This program, funded by from Delek Hospital. Tibetan Health-TVHA 3 Dr. Sonam Topgyal presented key facts on the manitarian activities, and in collaboration with Hepatitis-B virus infection, common transmis- the Zhedhey Khangsar Drug Rehabilitation Cen- sion of the virus and geographical concentration tre, organized a substance abuse campaign and of Hepatitis-B. He strongly called for coordinat- visited five schools in Himachal Pradesh. ed efforts to curb the rising incidence of hepatitis in the Tibetan community. Dr. Rinchen Sangmo The program was delivered at TCV Suja, TCV gave an in-depth presentation on the causes, Chauntra, STS Chauntra, TCV Gopalpur and symptoms, diagnosis and prevention of Hepati- TCV Lower Dharamsala from 18th–20th August tis-B. 2016. Starting with an introduction to drugs and their effects, the danger of addiction, and pos- The talks were followed by free Hepatitis-B tests, sible treatment regimes, former drug addicts then done by Mr. Tenzin Dhangsong, a laboratory shared their personal experiences and stories with technician at Delek Hospital. The test camp was the students. Each session ended with an interac- attended by 211 people of all ages. tive discussion, so students could ask questions and clear their confusion about drug abuse, ad- World Hepatitis Day was also observed in all the diction and treatment. Tibetan settlements and schools in India through awareness talks, skits, quizzes and drawing com- In the end, both the DoH and the schools were petitions. pleased with the success of the campaign in reaching the students and providing information. Substance Abuse Awareness Campaign Targets Tibetan Schools in Himachal Pradesh Mobile Health Campaign in Shimla and Dholanji Tibetan Settlements The Department of Health (DoH), with funding from the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees A two-day Mobile Health awareness campaign and Migration (PRM), in support of global hu- was conducted at Monasteries and Schools in 4 Tibetan Health-TVHA Shimla and Dholanji Tibetan settlements from to the general public, a free eye screening camp 5th–6th October 2016.