我曾看过他故乡的照片：
他的故乡医药设备十分落后，生病的村民大部分只能求助于巫师，因为没有多余的钱去看医生，最靠近的医药设备也要两天的路程，他的父母甚至不大了解医生是什么职业，但全力支持他。一个住在海拔3000公尺高尼泊尔偏僻小村的男孩，童年时曾每天走5个小时的路去上课，如今将获得英国曼彻斯特大学的MBBS学位。这或许是超越他当年小时候的想象，但一路走来的确热血和激励人心。他打算回国服务，更是值得学习的。
大学医学院的blog写了篇关于他的post, 原文如下：
Kanchha Sherpa, a Year 5 Medical student at Manchester Medical School, is set to become the first ever doctor in his native village of Melamchighyang, Nepal, when he graduates next month.
Melamchighyang is a world away from Manchester: a small rural village, 3000m above sea level in the mountains of Nepal, the village consists of around 1500 people who have little access to modern medicine, and many of whom visit the witch doctor when they have health problems. To visit a doctor, villagers must make the two day trek to Kathmandu, and the price of healthcare when they get there often rules it out completely.
Kanchha is an example of real determination and ambition. The 27 year old grew up with rural aspirations: he was given his first job by his father at the age of five, to look after the family’s yak in the jungle.
At a young age, his desire to study, and ambitions to move away from the family business were evident. After moving to Kashmir at the age of seven with his parents, he returned to Nepal to live with his Grandmother just so he could attend school. Not only was he away from his parents at this young age, he had to walk for five hours each day in order to attend the school.
With the help of his headmaster, who will be attending his degree ceremony, Kanchha secured funding through the Nepalese Children’s Trust to sponsor him through his A-levels and medical degree.
Kanchha decided to study in Manchester after coming across the prospectus in his library, and reading about the level of support offered to international students here. He’s enjoyed his time here immensely, He says:
“The teaching at Manchester Medical School has been incredible, and I would like to thank all the staff there who have been so supportive.”
He has no intention of remaining in the UK to practice, however. Kanchha says:
“I’ve been away for six years and it’s been a fantastic experience, but it feels like home whenever I go back to Nepal. It’s always been my dream to return to Melamchighyang, and to give something back to my country”.
Kanchha wants to educate the people of his home village about the benefits of modern medicine, and improve access to
Kanchha with his father in Nepal
healthcare in a place where access to proper toilet facilities and water is poor.
Although Kanchha says his parents don’t fully understand the career he has chosen, they are immensely supportive of him, and believe in him. Kanchha is currently waiting to hear whether or not they will be granted visas to attend his graduation ceremony on 9th July.
Of his upcoming graduation, Kanchha says:
“It’s exciting in many ways. It’s a proud moment for me, and for everyone who has helped me along the way.
“Hopefully I will inspire other young people in rural Nepal to do more – not necessarily to become a doctor – but just to do something more.”
No comments:
Post a Comment