Doctor’s two years in Nepal

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33455, 9 February 1974, Page 12

Doctor’s two years in Nepal

Nepal had been markedly affected by the world shortage ot fuel, which had caused tourist traffic to drop considerably, said Dr L. J. Strang on his return to Christchurch this week after more than two years at the Kunde Hospital, established in Nepal by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1966.

Dr Strang said that Nepal’ depended on India for fuel, and if India ran short there: was a consequent shortage in Nepal. A drop in tourist traffic might not be altogether a bad thing, as last year there were 4000 tourists in the area. In many countries, this would not be considered a great number, but it placed a considerable strain on Nepal’s rescources, said Dr Strang. This applied to such things as wood, which was scarce. Unless tourists took their own fuel, the already depleted wood supplies would be reduced still further. Dr Strang and his wife, a .registered nurse, were the I fourth couple to go to Kunde under the Volunteer Service Abroad scheme and sponsored by the New Zealand Himalayan Trust, which has Sir Edmund Hillary as its chairman. Tuberculosis and goitre (were still the two prevalent diseases in Nepal, but both were on the decrease, said L Strang. Goitre was easily treated when caused by iod- : ine deficiency (as it usually 'was) by giving an injection (of iodised oil. One 2ml. injection of iodiised oil lasted an adult about five to six years, and ,was the only practicable method of treatment, as the ‘Nepalese did not like refined I salt, preferring to eat Tibetan rock salt.

' The Nepalese were fond of i Tibetan tea containing butter: :and rock salt, and considered that refined salt tasted 'different, although Dr Strang saic he could not tell the difference. No woman who had been’ injected with iodised oil had given birth to a cretin—a; child born mentally deficient; or deaf, because of a lack of; iodine before birth—since; the programme began, Dr Strang said. ! Tuberculosis, while still a ’problem, w r as decreasing as: ia result of education, vacci-’ :nations, and active treatment! |of cases, he said. There was; no- legislation making! :patients have treatment, and! (even if they agreed to; undergo treatment they ran; I off as soon as they started : Ito feel better. However, theyj (usually suffered a relapse 'months, or even years, later, j ; The traditional living con-! Editions of the Nepalese! allowed tuberculosis to flourish. houses were usually close together and often 10| persons lived in one room, with a fire sending out; smoke which irritated the! lungs. The people had al habit of spitting, which also!

ihelped to spread the disease. '■ Peptic ulcers were also common amongst the Nepali lese people, said Dr Strang. This was partly because of ' the large amount of chilli eaten with almost every i! meal and partly because of the local brew of rice beer, :I some varieties of which ;were quite potent. The chilli nwas usually eaten to make lithe meals more “inter■'esting,” as they often consisted of only rice and lentils, meat being a scarce ; item. For the last six months, I the Kunde Hospital had been (able to use an airstrip only (half an hour away to take [(out major cases to Kathmandu, said Dr Strang. L’uri ing his time at Kunde, he '(had had to carry out minor ’i operations only, such as '(skin grafting, amputation of (fingers, and minor eye surigery. ■i Dr Strang, who is a son of the Rev. J. S. Strang, asj sociate minister of the Knox i! Presbyterian Church in I !Christchurch, will take up a i post as medical registrar with the North Canterbury I Hospital Board.