Safe Childbirth in Rural Tibet – 2015 Clinic update

Prayer flags raised to welcome guests to Ayang Gompa, Eastern Tibet

A small team of doctors and students visited the Ayang Gompa clinic in Rima, Eastern Tibet again in July 2015. We held review and training sessions for the two clinic doctors, the midwife, and 22 Community Health Educators. Dr. Zhao, who had also been part of the team in 2009, reviewed measuring blood pressure and monitoring fetal growth with ultrasound in pregnant women, and discussed best practices for prenatal and postnatal exams and for vaccinating infants and children.

Your donation today will help repair the clinic roof and keep salaries paid and medicines and clean birthing kits purchased for 2016. Please, can you help us now with a year-end, tax-deductible donation?

Ayang Gompa and Clinic across the Lake of Compassion, Eastern Tibet

Ayang Gompa (center) and Clinic (left) across the Lake of Compassion, Eastern Tibet, with new housing for nomads along the shores of the lake (right)

Midwife measures fetal size and position using clinic’s ultrasound

Community Health Educators practice taking blood pressure measurements to monitor for preeclampsia in pregnancy.

Dr. Ngagay checks newborn

Midwife vaccinates newborn in the clinic

Midwife vaccinates a newborn in the clinic

Clean birthing kits have been a part of our program to reduce infection and promote safe home childbirth since 2005. Kits contain prenatal vitamins, soap, towels, clean plastic sheet to lie on, clean blade and string to cut and tie the cord, hat, booties and baby blanket.

Dr. Ngawang Phuntso dispenses Tibetan and Western medicines from the clinic pharmacy.

Monks as well as nomads receive treatment in the clinic.

The clinic roof leaking has gotten progressively worse and now several rooms are completely unusable. Repairing the roof will cost $15,000, and is our highest priority this year.