ST. CLOUD, Fla. --- Nepalese-American tour operator, TREKT Himalaya, LLC., with offices in Saint Cloud and Kathmandu, Nepal has teamed up with the Mountain Fund Charity (based in New Mexico and Kathmandu) to launch a series of Medical Treks aimed at doctors, nurses and medical students who would like to volunteer in Nepal.
“We wanted to focus on sustainable tourism in Nepal,” said TREKT Himalaya founder Sandra Krasa BK, “and one thing that I have noticed in my years of living there is that outside of Kathmandu there is a glaring lack of even basic medical care. When Nepali people see a tourist on the trekking path, or in their village, they will often ask you for some kind of first-aid even if you are not a medical professional. Just on the basis of being Western, they know we have some type of first-aid kit with us. I have been asked to look at cuts, burns, a broken arm and to diagnose internal pain. I have no medical background, and I tell them that, but the people are just desperate for help and empathy,” she said
In early 2012 TREKT Himalaya embarked on organizing adventures in the Himalayan region that incorporated not only classic treks, like Everest Base Camp, but also educational adventures that would help the people of Nepal as well as Western tourists who are looking for meaningful travel experiences that connect them with the local culture.
“I had been talking with Scott MacLennan from the Mountain Fund while I was in Kathmandu last year, and when we opened up the TREKT Himalaya office in Central Florida with the idea of ‘volunteerism’ as a focus, he was one of the first people I thought of,” Krasa said. “His volunteer organization is one of the most respected in Nepal.”
The Mountain Fund had worked with medical volunteer placements before, and Scott had knowledge of the rural areas that get the least attention, and that was exactly where we wanted to focus, Krasa said.
“I ran the plan for Medical Trek Nepal past my mother, Linda Krasa, who is a nurse at Dr. Phillips Hospital in Orlando, and she said ‘sign me up!’ I hope others will be as eager to help too,” she said.
TREKT Himalaya’s Medical Trek promises a trip on the road less traveled. The October 2012 trek will focus on the Gorkha & Dhading regions of Nepal. Considered to be the heartland of the nation, medical trekkers will enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalaya, spend time in remote villages, and experience a majestic culture for removed from the modern world, Krasa said.
The medical volunteers will set up a triage tent and treatment tents mid way through the trek to treat villagers from the surrounding area. Medical tents donated by Mountain Hardware serve as a movable clinic, she explained.
Last year, a similar medical camp was able to treat over 900 Nepali villagers in three days. Medical volunteers should be prepared to get busy Some common ailments among villagers are skin problems, gastro-intestinal illness, dental problems, dysentery, eye problems, untreated wounds, ob-gyn care, and infant-child wellness needs.
TREKT Himalaya needs doctors and nurses for exams and treatment, medical assistants and students for triage and there are also opportunities for non-medical volunteers to handle administrative duties and to boost morale, according to Krasa.
“The Nepali villagers love seeing the medical teams and volunteers come away knowing they gave much needed help and had a totally unique volunteer travel experience,” she said.
Sign-up is now open and is limited to the first 12 people who qualify. Volunteer applicants are encouraged to sign-up online at trekthimalaya.com/trek-nepal/volunteer .
TREKT Himalaya is a client company with the UCF Business Incubation Program and located at the St. Cloud Incubator.
About TREKT Himalaya
TREKT Himalaya, LLC is a Nepali-American tour company specializing in adventure travel and educational tours to the Himalaya. TREKT Himalaya, along with their extreme adventure sports affiliate company, Hardcore Nepal (P.) Ltd. (hardcorenepal.com) is dedicated to sustainable tourism. They have started a training program for Dalits (untouchables) to help breakdown social stigma of caste based jobs, and have recently teamed with Italian charity “Finale for Nepal” to provide rock climbing adventures with proceeds benefiting rural Nepal schools. TREKT plans to launch a “made in Nepal” Fair Trade clothing line in 2013. Trekthimalaya.com
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 134 current clients) create over $363 million in annual total economic output and more than 3,120 new jobs (taking direct and indirect and induced impact into account) with an average salary of $59,000. With ten facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development among the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Apopka, the City of Winter Springs, the City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information about the Program and its clients and graduates, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.
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