THE HEALER In 1981, when Joan Halifax trekked high in the Everest region of Nepal, she saw a lethally low level of healthcare. Within years of that visit, the socially engaged Buddhist and hospice caregiver launched Nomads Clinic, an annual medical pilgrimage by volunteer clinicians to the Himalayan region. Halifax, now 71, describes the 2013 expedition as a “walking village” comprising healthcare workers, other volunteers, and locals. The medical mission attended to broken bones, severe burns, lacerations, and a range of internal ailments. A mobile eye clinic gave away glasses, acupuncturists eased pain, and physicians dewormed kids. Along the way, the group trained Tibetan and Nepali medical practitioners in the care of isolated mountain communities, donated shoes and clothing, and provided clinics geared to girls, women, and seniors. The Nomads Clinic offers all services free of charge. “Travel is an opportunity to be on a path of discovery,” says Halifax. “I think the reason our volunteers return again and again is to be reminded of their basic humanity and the joy of giving care.”
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 19:14:11 +0000
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