Medical Ministry International in Nepal

The medical teams to Nepal are lead by MMI Asia Project Director, Dr Allan. B. Melicor. The projects focus on surgical care and further training for the staff of local hospitals in Nepal. 

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Allan B. Melicor, M.D.

Dr. Allan B. Melicor, pictured left, is a General, Cancer, and Laparoscopic Surgeon serving with Medical Ministry International as a Project Director throughout Asia.  Allan was trained in the Philippines, U.S.A., U.K., and Japan.  He lives with his wife Blessie, an RN, and son Allen Paul in the United States.  They were introduced to Medical Ministry International in 1993 when a surgical team went to the Philippines.  After volunteering that year, Allan has continued to host projects at the Bethel Baptist Hospital in Bukidnon, Aklan Baptist Hospital, Leyte Baptist Hospital & Leyte Province, Palawan Baptist Hospital and in North and South Palawan, the Tboli Evangelical Clinic and various places in Northern Philippines, as well as in Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Related to his mission with Medical Ministry International, Dr. Allan Melicor stated:

"We are gathering to show the love of Christ through our words and deeds. As we are representing Jesus to the people, our behavior needs to represent our faith. We ask that you pray in preparation for this project. Please pray that the people we are going to help and our local partners can discover God through the service we will share with them. We will be praying that your preparation and departure from North America to Philippines goes well as we work together to meet the physical and spiritual needs of our neighbors."

Dr. Allan Melicor, Dr. Bhaby (Co-project director of Nepal), Dr. Jun Garcia, Dr. Pete Obregon, Dr. JoV Dignadice

Dr. Allan Melicor, Dr. Bhaby (Co-project director of Nepal), Dr. Jun Garcia, Dr. Pete Obregon, Dr. JoV Dignadice

Project Site:

Chaurjahari


Chaurjahari is located in the Rukum district, a remote area of Nepal in which 46% of the total population lives in poverty. Many people in Chaurjahari are in need of emotional healing along with the opportunity to increase their quality of education and health services. The HDCS Chaurjahari hospital brings healthcare to the locals as well as those who walk a significant distance, sometimes for 3-5 days. The HDCS Chaurjahari hospital is working effectively through community health programs to overcome challenges such as health superstitions, poor health education, and poverty.

* Project Description: The Chaurjahari hospital is located in the Rukum district in the Midwest region of Nepal, 640 km from Kathmandu. The work day will be arranged based on the Nepali rhythm of every day life. There will be 6 working days, with Saturday off for the weekend. As a Christian mission hospital, the day at the hospital will begin at 9:00 with devotion, short reporting, and information sharing regarding hospital work activities. The work hours will be from 9:30am to 5:00pm. The MMI team will work alongside local Nepali doctors in doing general surgeries, and further train Nepali doctors, nurses, and medic anesthetists in surgical skills, managing patients, post-op care, and recovery.

Elevation
750m (2,460 ft)

Climate
The average September temperature ranges from a high of 31°C (88) to a low of 23°C (73°F)
nepal weather.png
 

Travelling on a Project

Entry & Exit Requirements


Travelers must present a passport which must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of expected departure. Two passport sized photos are required. Tourist visas can be purchased in your home country from the Nepalese Embassy or after arrival at the airport ($30 for 1 month). Proof of return or onward travel is required. If you have visited a country where yellow fever exists, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required. For a list of countries please see:
http://www.who.int/ith/2015-ith-county-list.pdf?ua=1&ua=1

• Americans: Please check the following website for the most current entry/exit requirements:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Nepal.html

• Canadians: Please check the following website for the most current entry/exit requirements:
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/nepal

• International: Please contact MMI office or Key Travel (formerly Raptim Humanitarian Travel) for visa requirement if needed.

Application Requirements


Please email ALL CREDENTIALS upon application, as these must go to the Project Director in the country to be translated and then taken to the Ministry of Health to get temporary licenses prior to your arrival.

• For everyone, we need:
- Colour Scan / Photocopy of Passport (photo page)
- Colour photo for your name badge (any good photo, we can adjust size)
- Travel Itinerary
- Supply Lists

• Medical Professionals, we also need your:
- Current License (through time of project)
- Diploma (Techs, Nursing, Dental, MD and Board Certifications)
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume (this also will help the Project Director know your skills & experience to assign you a task on the project, especially for 1st time participants)

• Health Care Students: Letter of Good Standing from your school (including year of study and graduation date).

• All MINORS travelling with only one parent, or without their parents, will need a letter from BOTH parents stating that it is OK for the child to travel with one parent or an appointed guardian. The letter should be signed and notarized. MMI needs a copy of this letter, and the parent or guardian should carry the original letter while travelling.

Travel


Airfare is not included on the Project Schedule because the costs for airfare vary significantly based on the country location, location of team members, and time of year.

Once accepted for a Project Team, participants can contact our designated travel agent to coordinate schedules with the team itinerary.

Globespan Travel Management www.globespan.com
Email: Globespan on behalf of Medical Ministry International mmitravel@globespan.com
Phone: Connie Kelsey at: (800) 810-1948 or (416) 322-7629

• Applicants from outside USA or Canada:
Travel arrangement can be procured locally or with the recommended agency, but arrivals & departures must coordinate with team.

Immunizations


We strongly recommend that you consult a travel clinic, as they are aware of outbreaks and can suggest preventative immunizations. All routine immunizations should be up-to-date. Please check the following website for the most current information.

• Americans: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/nepal

• Canadians: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/nepal

Accomodations and Meals


MMI will arrange local accommodations for the team.
• Laundry Service: usually available for additional fee
• AC: dependent on location
• Phone Service: check with your cell phone provider, roaming is very expensive
• Wifi/Internet: dependent on locations
• Voltage: 220V (converter or adaptor required).
• Meals: MMI will provide meals for the team. Dietary restrictions can be indicated on your application and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Be sure to bring your own re-usable water bottle with a wide mouth for refilling. Purified water is supplied. If you would like to bring snacks to have throughout the day, please bring items such as peanut butter, granola bars, trail mix or pretzels and crackers in sealable containers (like Ziploc bags).

Culture

• Language: Nepali, Maithili, and over 100 others
• Religion:
- Hindu: 80.6%
- Buddhist: 10.7%
- Muslim: 4.2%
- Christian: 0.5%
- Others: 0.4%
• Government: Federal Republic

Currency


The money in Nepal is called the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). MMI staff can help you exchange foreign money in Kathmandu before coming to Rukum. In Nepal it is best to use cash, but all major credit cards are accepted - Visa and MasterCard the most widely accepted (make sure to call your credit card company and let them know that you’ll be traveling internationally). Traveler’s cheques are not easily cashed. You must bring US dollars in good condition. Torn, stamped or old bills will not be exchanged. $100 bills older than 2006 are also not accepted.

About Nepal

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Nepal is a multiethnic, landlocked country in South Asia located in the Himalaya. Nepal has a population of about 30 million, and  Kathmandu is the nation's largest city and capital. Nepal can be divided broadly into three ecological zones: the lowland, the midland and the highland. With its ancient culture and the mountains surrounding, Nepal was closed to the outside world until the 1950s. A devastating earthquake in April 2015 killed thousands of people, flattened villages and reduced numerous heritage sites to ruin.  As one of the world's poorest countries, Nepal's economy relies heavily on aid and tourism.

LOCATION:

Nepal is a country in South Asia located in the Himalaya. 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:

28.3949° N, 84.1240° E

MAP REFERENCES:

South Asia

CLIMATE:

Influenced by maritime and continental factors. Has four distinct seasons. Spring lasts from March to May, and is warm with rain showers. Summer, from June to August, is the monsoon season when the hills turn lush and green.

TOTAL AREA:

147,181 km²

BORDER COUNTRIES:

China is to the north and India surrounds all other sides of Nepal.

COASTLINE:

0 km (landlocked)

MARITIME CLAIMS:

None (landlocked)

 

TERRAIN:

Located in the Himalaya mountain range, Nepal is home to 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest, known locally as Sagarmatha. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills

ELEVATION EXTREMES

LOWEST POINT:

Kechana Kalan - 70 m

HIGHEST POINT:

Mount Everest - 8,848 m (the highest point on earth)

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